A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a stranger who forcefully entered her house. She was also threatened at knifepoint, said police.
The incident happened on July 29 afternoon at her house on Turana Parade, North Lambton, in Newcastle. The man entered her bedroom then held the 20-year-old victim at knifepoint. Police have describedthe accused as a "sex predator," who is in his early 20s, and is of athletic build, with dark hair, reported 9News.
According to Newcastle City Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey, the man sexually assaulted her, and then he ran away. Humphrey said that the "very unusual" episode left the woman "heavily traumatized." She also suffered minor physical injuries. The detective called the crime committed by the "complete stranger" an "act of a disgraceful predator." The police are taking the "predatory act" very seriously.
There were reports that the accused was roaming outside properties along the road, so cops are searching for forensic evidence at different locations. They think that he may have been in the area for some time. Cops have requested the residents to call Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers if they spotted him.
Humphrey said that whether it was opportunistic or not, the crime that the man committed when he found the woman alone, was not opportunistic, and called it "aggravated and predatory." He added that there is no evidence she knew the man prior to him breaking into her house and sexually assaulting her.
Police have started a probe under Strike Force Oorin. They are being assisted by the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Meanwhile, police have collected DNA of a suspect, Jonah Somasundaram. He was arrested in a house just a few blocks away from the spot where the crime took place, reported Newcastle Herald. Whether the DNA can be used by prosecutors in court will be subject to a hearing in the Newcastle District Court later in August. The suspect failed to bid for bail at the Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday.
He was charged with four aggravated assaults causing physical harm, invasion, and prosecution. He entered no petition. The case has been postponed till Sept. 30.
In a separate incident, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at gunpoint last week in a Haltom City field in Texas. The woman told police that a man approached her and asked for change. Soon, he pointed a black gun at her. He forcefully took her to a field where he allegedly raped her.
The suspect has been described as a black man, with short black hair, about 6-foot tall, and aged between 35 and 40, as per Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Authorities asked those who have information or access to surveillance video cameras in the area, to contact police.
