A man will face court today charged following the re-investigation of an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a young woman in Sydney’s south-west in the mid-1990s.
Police say that just after 12.30am on Tuesday, 20 June in 1995, an injured woman, then aged 22, spoke with officers at Bankstown Police Station and reported that she had been detained and sexually assaulted by a man.
Despite exhaustive inquiries and forensic examinations at the time, no charges were laid.
In March 2021, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Tarana to reinvestigate the incident, after a DNA link was identified by NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic and Analytical Science Service.
Following further extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a man at Lalor Park about 10.20am yesterday.
The man was taken to Blacktown Police Station, where he was charged with detain for advantage without causing injury to victim, sexual intercourse without consent, and aggravated sexual assault – inflict actual bodily harm on victim.
The Villawood man has been refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court later today.
Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Adam Powderly, said the arrest was the result of tenacious investigative work.
“Victims of sexual assault should know that from the moment they make a report, police will pursue every lead – no matter how long it takes,” Det A/Supt Powderly said.
“It also highlights the importance of reporting to police regardless of whether a crime will be pursued at court – if there’s forensic evidence available, it can be followed up at any time.”
