Port Macquarie alleged rape: Man arrested for allegedly dragging 18-year-old stranger through sand dunes on her way to the Matildas
- 25-year-old man charged with alleged sexual assault of 18-year-old
- He allegedly forced the girl onto sand dunes to assault her.
- She was on her way to watch the Matildas semi-final game.
A man has been arrested for forcing an 18-year-old girl over sand dunes and raping her on her way to a World Cup match in a quiet seaside town.
Footage shows the 25-year-old defendant arrested at a house in Port Macquarie, on the NSW north coast, at around 5.15pm on Wednesday.
The bearded man, dressed in a black shirt and tan trousers, was handcuffed and escorted to a waiting police vehicle by detectives.
Police say the teenager was walking to watch the Matildas’ semi-final game against England at around 8.30pm on August 16 when the alleged horror incident took place.
The accused was taken Port Macquarie Police Station, where he was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and another count of sexual touching of another person without consent.
He appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday afternoon, where he was denied bail and was on trial until his next appearance on October 19.
Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet friends ahead of the game which was broadcast live at the Town Beach Park Amphitheatre.
Officers further allege that while waiting on Stewart Street, the teenager was approached by a man she did not know, forced onto the sand dunes and sexually assaulted before the assailant allegedly fled on foot.
Officers confirmed officers attended the scene shortly after the teen reported the incident to police.
“Detectives attached to Mid North Coast Police District and State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad have launched Strike Force Belsham to investigate the incident,” a statement from NSW Police said.
Detective Inspector Peter O’Reilly said police had scoured large areas of Port Macquarie in search of the suspected attacker.
Footage shows the 25-year-old accused being arrested at a house in Port Macquarie, on the NSW north coast, at around 5.15pm on Wednesday after a thorough police investigation was launched under Strike Force Belsham.
Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet friends ahead of the game which was broadcast on a live site at the Town Beach Park Amphitheater.
The police have also increased their patrols in the streets near the beach since the attack.
“All avenues of investigation are available to us and we have done a lot of work since this incident was reported to the police,” he said.
“We have worked with many community members and traveled many areas around Port Macquarie.”
