Mackay man charged with rape, indecent treatment, grooming of young teen

Police have arrested a man over allegations he repeatedly raped and molested a young teen at a regional town.

A Mackay man is facing 20 charges including multiple counts of rape and indecent treatment of a yound teen girl.

A Mackay man has been arrested over shocking allegations involving the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a young teen over 11 days.

Mackay Acting Inspector Chris Eaton said the man, who is in his late 30s, was arrested on Sunday.

He appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday on 20 offences.

The charges including nine counts each of rape and indecent treatment of a child under 16 and one count each of child grooming and aggravated drug supply to a minor.

It is alleged the offending occurred over 11 days in October 2022 in Mackay.

Inspector Eaton said police would allege the man groomed the teen girl over a short period of time.

Because of the nature of the charges this matter must be committed to Mackay District Court.

The maximum penalty for anyone convicted of rape is life imprisonment.

Under Queensland law anyone charged with a prescribed sexual offence such as rape, attempted rape, assault with intent to commit rape and sexual assault cannot be named until his case is committed to the district court and only then if it will not identify the child.

The publication can confirm the man was remanded in custody and his case will be mentioned again early next year.