Two people will face court today charged over the alleged detainment and assault of a woman in the state's Lake Macquarie region.
About 11.30pm on Wednesday (14 October 2020), a 20-year-old woman, who has an intellectual disability, was travelling as a passenger in a car on the Pacific Highway at Charlestown, when it stopped at a red light near Ferris Street.
A Hyundai Elantra sedan pulled up alongside and the occupants of the vehicle – who are known to the woman – allegedly grabbed her and forced her into their car before driving off.
While she was being detained in the sedan, the woman was allegedly repeatedly assaulted and had her credit cards stolen.
Police will allege in court that the car drove to George Booth Drive at West Wallsend before it stopped and one of the passengers, a 38-year-old woman, dragged the 20-year-old woman out of the car and continued to assault her on the street.
She was then forced back into the car before she was driven to a home in Windale a short time later.
It's further alleged that while at the home, the 20-year-old woman was forced into the shower and repeatedly assaulted while being filmed.
Officers from Parramatta Police Area Command were notified after the vision was put on social media, before officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation.
Investigators attended the home at Windale, where NSW Ambulance paramedics were treating the 20-year-old woman. She was then taken to Belmont Hospital in a stable condition.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Box Place, Gateshead, about 7.30am yesterday (Thursday 15 October 2020).
Several items relevant to the investigation, including a Hyundai Elantra sedan, were seized to undergo forensic examination.
A short time later, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested at the property and taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with nine offences, including:
- robbery in company,
- take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage,
- two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
- two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm,
- film person in private act without consent, and
- two counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO.
The woman was charged with seven offences, including:
- robbery in company,
- take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage,
- two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
- two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, and
- film person in private act without consent.
Both were refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Friday 16 October 2020).
Investigations are continuing.
