A 66-year-old man will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today after detectives from the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group successfully applied for his extradition from Western Australia.
The man was arrested on Tuesday January 17 by members of the WA Police Force, following investigations by Queensland Police into indecent dealing offences that took place between 1976 and 1982 in the Mackay area. Police will allege the man was known to the child.
The man will appear in court charged with nine counts of indecent treatment of girls under sixteen (U14) and one count of rape.
Detective Inspector Stephen Blanchfield from the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group said the decision to come forward and report sexual assault and other trauma is very personal and police are there to provide support.
“We are committed to supporting victims of sexual assault and there are a variety of reporting options available aimed at increasing accessibility and options to support people in coming forward, regardless of when the offending may have occurred,” Detective Inspector Blanchfield said.
“Police will listen and respect your wishes and if a victim chooses to make a formal complaint and an investigation progresses, they will continue having choices throughout the investigation process. These will be explained by the investigator, with support available throughout the process.
“Police investigations of rape and sexual assault vary as circumstances are never the same. Detectives from the Sexual Crime Unit are a specialised team who work on complex and serious sex offences and work closely with regional investigators when matters cross multiple areas”.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, it is not your fault and you are not alone. There are multiple ways to report what has happened to you depending on your situation.
If there’s an immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). You can also report online via: https://forms.police.qld.gov.au/launch/SexualAssault, over the phone or face to face at a police station.
There are also Alternative Reporting Options available depending on your situation.
For confidential information, counselling and support, call the State-wide Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 or 1800 RESPECT for 24-hour help.
