Alleged fake police officer who targeted, robbed and raped women in COVID-19 isolation can’t be identified despite historic legal change

A man who allegedly raped women self-isolating for COVID-19 while impersonating a police office still can’t be named, despite changes to laws preventing identification of accused sex offenders.

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A man who allegedly impersonated a police officer to rape two women who were in COVID-19 isolation cannot be named – despite a landmark legal rewrite – because of SA Police and the Courts Administration Authority.

The northern suburbs man, 31, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday charged with multiple offences, including stealing $8300 from his two alleged victims.

His identity, however, cannot be reported even though, earlier this month, The Advertiser succeeded in its 18-year campaign to overturn automatic anonymity for alleged sex offenders.

The law was passed, with bipartisan support, by both houses of Parliament but its activation has been suspended at the request of police and the state’s courts.

A spokesperson for Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said those organisations asked the law not come into effect until mid-April so they could make changes to their internal processes.

As a result, the man’s identity will remain a state secret until at least Friday, when the court will hear The Advertiser’s application for an exemption from the now-overturned law.

The man has yet to plead to four counts of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent and two aggravated counts of committing theft using force.

He is further charged with two counts of falsely representing himself as a police officer.

SA Police allege that, at 8.30pm on Friday, the man posed as a police officer to gain entry to a CBD premises being occupied by a woman undertaking mandatory COVID-19 isolation.

It is alleged he then handcuffed the woman, showed her a handgun tucked into his belt and demanded money, receiving $6600.

It is further alleged he then forced the woman into the bedroom and raped her multiple times.

Police also allege that, at 10.30pm the same night, he repeated his charade in order to gain entry to a second premises occupied by another woman in isolation.

It is alleged he told the woman she was not observing quarantine and would be arrested unless she gave him money and had sex with him.

The man allegedly took $1700 from the woman before repeatedly raping her.

In court on Monday, counsel for the man asked he be considered for release on home detention bail but police objected, saying the alleged offences were too serious.

Magistrate Greg Fisher agreed, remanding the man in custody until July.

The Advertiser then sought exemption from the old suppression laws in order to publish details of the man’s identity.

However, Mr Fisher said he could not hear the application due to the large number of other cases yet to be heard, and adjourned that argument until Friday.