13-year-old ebike rider arrested over alleged sexual offences against women on Sydney's northern beaches trails
New South Wales police in Australia have arrested a 13-year-old boy over alleged sexual touching of girls and women on walking trails in Sydney's northern beaches area. Police believe 11 separate incidents occurred in early October.
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales said on Sunday that a 13-year-old boy who rode an ebike has been arrested and charged with multiple sexual offences against women and girls on walking trails in the Narrabeen area of Sydney's northern beaches. The case matters locally because the incidents had raised safety concerns on public trails for several weeks.
Arrest and charges
According to police, the boy attended Mona Vale police station at about 7.30pm on Saturday, following a public appeal. He was taken to Manly police station and charged with three counts of behaving in an offensive manner in or near a public place, and eight counts of sexually touching another person without consent. Earlier on Saturday, police had released CCTV images of a male who they believed could assist with inquiries.
The boy was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in the children's court on 4 November.
The investigation
Police allege 11 separate incidents took place against girls and women aged between 13 and 54. The investigation began after three alleged incidents on 7 and 8 October. In each, a male allegedly approached women on walking trails, sexually touched them and rode away on an ebike. In one case the offender allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments.
Police also cited an incident at Narrabeen lagoon at about 4.30pm on 1 October. Last Monday, they received a further report that between 5pm and 5.30pm that day, two women walking along the lagoon near Bilarong reserve had been sexually touched by a male on an ebike.
Strike Force Mexvo was set up to investigate, assisted by the state crime command's sex crimes squad. Supt John Duncan urged the public to come forward with information. He said the park runs for 8km, much of it through bushland, so there are few CCTV cameras.
