A male youth under the age of 15 has been charged with indecent touching and attempted rape in connection to the assault of six females in the Darwin northern suburbs over a span of two weeks, NT Police said, but police did not explain why none of the incidents were reported publicly at the time they occurred to warn the public an alleged serial offender was sexually assaulting women.
Police said in a statement the youth was first arrested on April 30, in connection to two separate incidents at Royal Darwin Hospital carpark, where it is alleged the youth indecently touched two women. He was charged with two counts of indecent touching or act and remanded to appear in court on May 7.
During the period between the arrest and court date, police connected the youth to four further sexual assaults on females along the Nightcliff foreshore in the weeks leading up to his arrest.
However, police did not publicly report any of the four incidents at the time they occurred.
The first alleged incident occurred around 6:30am on April 17, when police received reports a male had indecently assaulted a woman who was walking along the foreshore, before fleeing the scene.
Police were provided a statement and description of the offender, but did not make that public. Police said in the statement that the description provided was “crucial in linking this occurrence to the following incidents that took place in the carpark later in the day”.
Five days later, on April 22 at 11am, the male allegedly sexually assaulted another female who was running along the foreshore, with the victim able to flee the situation.
The next day, April 23 at 6pm, the male allegedly attacked a female after indecently assaulting her at the same location, with a passing vehicle witnessing the assault and stopping to help. The youth fled the scene before police arrived.
Six days after that, on April 29 at 7:20pm, the male allegedly attacked another female who was walking along the foreshore after grabbing her from behind. She broke free and noticed he was naked, police said. The victim screamed and fled the offender.
No explanation was provided for why none of the incidents were publicly reported by police.
Police said in the statement that evidence was collected from the victims which “returned a positive DNA match” to the youth. He was later charged with four further counts of indecent touching or act without consent and attempted rape.
He is currently in jail, police said, and will appear in court on May 20. It was not disclosed if that would be Youth Court.
NT Police have a long history of failing to publicly report sexual assaults in a timely manner.
Anyone with further information on the Nightcliff foreshore incidents that could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 131 444 or via Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
This is concerning. My teenage daughter likes to go for a walk on the foreshore. I would have appreciated a police warning so that she can reduce her potential risk. Why are crimes against women less important? This is the message being given by NT Police whether they mean to or not.