Sex abuse accused ‘with child’ when arrested on train
Robyn Wuth and Rex Martinich |
A man accused of luring two girls from a city by train and sexually assaulting them was later arrested in the company of a child, police say.
Queensland detectives are appealing for information after charging the 50-year-old man from Deception Bay over alleged child sexual offences.
The man is accused of approaching a 13-year-old girl on June 28 near Roma Street railway station in central Brisbane, nearly three weeks after allegedly doing the same to a 15-year-old girl.
He was arrested later on June 28 in the company of one of the girls, police said on Friday.
The man is accused of then travelling north with the girls by train to Deception Bay – a journey that can take up to 90 minutes.
The offences allegedly occurred at a location in Deception Bay.
“It is alleged this male has approached those two children on two separate occasions and has built a rapport with them,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kate Mitchell said.
Det Mitchell was unable to comment on whether the accused man was employed in any role that involved access to children.
Police released body-worn camera footage of the man’s arrest at a train station near Redcliffe.
Officers can be seen boarding a train and speaking to the man before escorting him out onto the platform and arresting him, leading him to a police van in handcuffs.
The man has been charged with multiple child sexual offences and drug offences and will face Caboolture Magistrates Court on July 29.
He has been remanded in custody.
Det Mitchell said investigators believed there might be more victims and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“The alleged nature and circumstances of this offending are extremely concerning, particularly as we believe there may be other victims who have not yet been identified,” she said.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP