A 19-year-old man has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl near a bush doof event in Broome, Western Australia.
Police allege the man assaulted the girl, who he knew, near the event in Cable Beach at Gantheaume Point during the early hours of Sunday morning.
The girl’s friends had been searching for her and found her.
They were able to get her away from the man and helped her report the matter, police said.
Police charged the 19-year-old man with aggravated sexual penetration without consent.
He was due to face the Broome Magistrates Court today.
Cable Beach is a popular destination that attracts tourists to Broome.
The site is home to a number of bush doof events — outdoor parties held at remote or rural locations.
Cold case of 2022 sexual assault at bush doof
Police have also made an appeal in regards to an unrelated incident where a woman was sexually assaulted at a bush doof at the Sand Dunes on Cable Beach during the early hours of Sunday morning on May 29, 2022.
About 100 people were in attendance at the event.
An unknown man confronted the woman, hitting her several times and causing her to fall, before sexually assaulting her.
He then fled the scene while the woman was hospitalised with serious head injuries.
The man was described as dark skinned with a slim build and 177 centimetres tall.
Cold case detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man.
There is a $250,000 reward offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the man.
”Anyone with information, no matter how small or irrelevant they think it may be, is encouraged to come forward,” Detective Senior Sergeant Fowler said.
“Due to the complexities of the DNA evidence for this particular case, we encourage the public not to exclude people they think would have been already eliminated based solely off DNA testing.
“If you know of a person who was in the Broome area at the time of the offence, and acted in a suspicious manner particularly towards women, or departed Broome soon thereafter the offence, we’d like to hear from you.”
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
