Detectives have charged a man over his alleged role in the historical sexual and physical abuse of a teenage girl in the state’s Hunter region.
In January 2021, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Baria to investigate the alleged kidnapping, sexual and physical assault of a teenage girl between April 2016 and December 2018 by people known to her.
Strike force detectives have already charged two men – aged 38 and 43 – as well as a 60-year-old woman, for their alleged roles in the abuse of the teenage girl. They remain before the courts.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 61-year-old man at a home in Muswellbrook about 4pm yesterday (Monday 27 September 2021).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with 16 sexual and physical violence-related offences.
They include;
- Indecent assault person under 16 years of age,
- cause child older than 14 and below 18 to do act of child prostitution,
- have sexual intercourse with person older than 14 and younger than 16 years (x2),
- assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) (x2),
- attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm (domestic) (x3),
- common assault (DV) (x5),
- take etc in company with intent get advantage occasion actual bodily harm (DV), and,
- kidnap with intent commit serious indictable off occasion actual bodily harm (DV)
Police will allege in court the man sexually and physically assaulted a 19-year-old woman – then aged between 13 and 16-years-old – on numerous occasions between 2016 and 2018.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 28 September 2021).
Investigations under Strike Force Baria are continuing.