Jesse Sean Devery: Gold Coast engineer charged with raping, assaulting woman

A Gold Coast engineer’s consensual sexual encounter allegedly turned violent, a court has heard. His lawyer said he will contest the charges.

Engineer Jesse Sean Devery, 39, who is accused of rape. Picture: LinkedIn

A Gold Coast engineer’s consensual sexual encounter allegedly turned violent, resulting in a trio of charges including rape, a court has heard.

Upper Coomera man Jesse Sean Devery, 39, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where defence solicitor Sinead Campbell made a bail application on his behalf.

Mr Devery is charged with two counts of rape and one of assault occasioning bodily harm.

The offences allegedly took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and all involved the same complainant.

The court was told Mr Devery and the complainant left a venue together, understood to be Labrador’s Grand Hotel, and went back to a residence where they began having consensual sexual activity.

However the “nature of that activity is alleged to have changed throughout the course” of the night, in the words of Magistrate Deborah Mitchell, leading the woman to take herself to the hospital and make a police report.

The court was told that after the woman left, Mr Devery allegedly sent her a message asking if she was okay, to which she is said to have responded that she was reporting him to cops.

Mr Devery was allegedly uncooperative when police took up with him on the day the report was made.

He has been remanded in custody since Sunday.

Engineer Jesse Sean Devery, 39, who is accused of rape. Picture: Facebook

Police opposed his bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations, a risk of the defendant failing to appear for future court dates, and the possibility of interfering with witnesses.

Ms Campbell told the court her client, who had a dated and not especially relevant criminal history, had previously been able to comply with bail conditions, and had no history of failing to appear or tampering with witnesses.

She told the court his employer – understood to be a rural Gold Coast construction firm – remained supportive of the defendant, as did his mother, who was present in court.

Ms Campbell said her client would be contesting the charges.

Magistrate Mitchell said although she was concerned at Mr Devery’s alleged behaviour when police took up with him, and the charges were obviously serious, he was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

It was likely proceedings could take many months or even years, in light of their contested nature, she added.

Magistrate Mitchell granted Mr Devery bail on conditions including that he have no contact with the complainant, report weekly to police, possess only one mobile phone and provide its access details to police on request, and submit to a disease test.

His charges were adjourned for a week to enable a brief of evidence to be ordered.

Originally published as Jesse Sean Devery: Gold Coast engineer charged with raping, assaulting woman