NT Police arrest man, 60, accused of raping woman in Berrimah

A man accused of raping a woman has been bailed after spending several nights in custody. Details.

At 60-year-old man accused of raping a woman has appeared in Darwin Local Court. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

A 60-year-old man accused of raping a woman in Darwin has been bailed.

Police allege the man sexually assaulted a woman at an address in Berrimah on June 27.

Officers arrested the man on Thursday, with members of the Sex Crimes Section now investigating.

On Friday afternoon, the man, who cannot be identified at this stage of the legal proceedings, applied for bail at Darwin Local Court.

The court heard the man had traffic and violence offences to his name, but had spent “very little time” in custody.

His lawyer also said the man had “no history of sexual violence”.

In presenting bail submissions, the court heard the man had a steady job and his own residence.

The court heard there were “no civilian witnesses” to the alleged incident.

Additionally, the lawyer said his client was having difficulties in custody due to the “onerous” conditions coupled with his own medical conditions.

“He’s had no exercise, he is not accessing any natural light, it’s very hard to shower and he hasn’t been given a clean towel and the lights are on all the time,” the lawyer said.

The lawyer also said the matter was a “one-on-one” case with “no civilian witnesses”, and

that in their submission it would be a “very contestable matter”.

An assessment into the suitability for the man to wear and EMD has been ordered. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Judge Sally Ozolins ordered an assessment be made as to whether an electronic monitoring device would be suitable should the defendant be granted bail.

“The new bail laws say that in order to even contemplate granting someone bail when they’re charged with this kind of offence (is that) there has to be an electronic monitoring assessment,” she told the accused.

“That won’t be done this afternoon, so I have to adjourn your matter.”

When the defendant returned to court on Monday, July 7, his application was deemed appropriate and he was granted bail.

Originally published as NT Police arrest man, 60, accused of raping woman in Berrimah