A 19-year-old man has faced charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl at a bush doof event near Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia. The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, during which the suspect, known to the victim, is alleged to have assaulted her. Her friends, who had been searching for her, discovered her and helped her to escape the situation before assisting her in reporting the assault to the police.
Authorities have charged the man with aggravated sexual penetration without consent, and he is scheduled to appear in Broome Magistrates Court. Cable Beach is a popular attraction in Broome and frequently hosts outdoor parties or bush doofs.
In a separate and ongoing investigation, police are seeking information regarding an unrelated sexual assault that occurred during a bush doof at the Sand Dunes on Cable Beach on May 29, 2022. During that event, a woman was attacked by an unknown man who physically assaulted her, leading to serious injuries requiring hospitalisation. The perpetrator then fled the scene. Police are looking for public assistance in identifying the suspect, who is described as having a dark complexion and a slim build, measuring around 177 cm tall. There is a reward of $250,000 offered for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of this individual.
Detectives have urged anyone with potential information, regardless of how insignificant they believe it to be, to come forward. They emphasised the importance of not dismissing individuals based solely on DNA evidence from the case. Those who may have been in the Broome area and noticed suspicious behaviour towards women around the time of the assault are particularly encouraged to reach out. Information can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Support services are available for those affected, including the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service, reachable at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).