Toowoomba truck driver accused of grooming and raping daughter over years

A Toowoomba truck driver accused of raping his daughter and sexually assaulting another young woman was himself the victim of a ‘very serious crime’, his lawyer has said.

Photo: Geoff Egan/ File.

A man accused of raping his own child has pleaded to be released from custody after he was attacked in prison.

A 42-year-old truck driver accused of grooming and raping his own daughter and sexually assaulting another young female appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court via videolink on Tuesday, applying for bail.

His identity cannot be revealed to protect the alleged victims.

The man is accused of two counts of rape alongside multiple sexual offences allegedly committed against his daughter over a significant time.

He is also alleged to have committed similar offences against a young woman in Ipswich, for which he was granted bail earlier this year before his arrest in Toowoomba.

“It’s not an overwhelming case against the defendant and the charges are very well in dispute,” solicitor Nathan Bouchier of Bouchier Khan Criminal Lawyers said.

Mr Bouchier told the court the man had faced significant struggles and had attempted suicide in the course of his arrest. He was also victim to an attack while in custody.

“He’s had a very difficult time in custody,” he said.

“His mental health has otherwise stabilised since being charged.

“He does have arrangements in place to continue to seek treatment if granted bail today.”

Mr Bouchier stressed a significant delay “loomed large” due to lagging police evidence.

“The matter has been adjourned on numerous occasions for this brief of evidence to be completed,” he said.

“We still don’t have the completed brief of evidence eight months down the track.”

Police prosecutor Sergeant Julia Wheaton argued the historical nature of the case made collecting evidence a tedious task.

“It’s not uncommon in these sorts of investigations – it’s wide ranging, it’s historical and they certainly do take time,” she said.

Sergeant Wheaton opposed bail on the grounds it was near impossible for police to monitor the type of alleged offending.

“It’s notoriously difficult to police or enforce any sort of condition that would preclude the defendant from having a phone or (allegedly) continuing to contact young people online.

“Even with a monitoring device it doesn’t stop this sort of offending taking place.

“It is almost impossible to monitor and police 24/7 which is essentially what is required.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley questioned the practicality of the proposed bail conditions.

“The concern I have, if he is at large, even with all of the conditions that have been proposed, he is still going to be working and driving,” she said.

“He has not received any treatment with respect to any pedophile tendency he may have … the bail application says he is either unwilling or unable to address that issue.

“He will be within the community.

“I’m not of the view there is anything that has been proposed or put forward that will assist (in his successful monitoring).”

She refused bail on the grounds of community safety and a potential risk of intimidating or influencing witnesses.

The man will return to Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 26, 2024.

Originally published as Toowoomba truck driver accused of grooming and raping daughter over years