Accused rapist lured his six victims online, court hears

AN online predator accused of raping six women used online dating sites to lure his victims, a court has heard.

Alleged rapist lured victims online

AN Egyptian student accused of raping six women using online dating sites to find his victims had been in Melbourne for less than one month before the first attack.

Police allege the online predator, Adel Nafady, 28, also tried to rape a seventh woman — who managed to break free — before his eight-week crime spree came to an end in May 2015.

She — unlike his other alleged victims — managed to escape his clutches before he had the chance to drag her into his apartment, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard today.

In one of the alleged incidences, Mr Nafady is charged with raping the same woman six times, and another five times

The court heard Mr Nafady signed up for a host of online sites including OkCupid, WhatsApp, Plenty of Fish, BeTalk and MeetMe after arriving in Melbourne in February last year on a student visa to complete a Masters of Business Administration.

In his time on the sites he engaged with 72 women, but stands accused of raping six of them, and assaulting a seventh.

Prosecutor Leslie Taylor, SC, said Mr Nafady’s victims ranged in age from 19 to 36, and were almost always born overseas, and just visiting Australia.

She said in every instance he made contact with his victims online before exchanging telephone numbers and agreeing to meet at his Windsor unit, where all of the alleged assaults took place.

The woman who allegedly escaped him had been in Australia for just two days, the court was told.

Mr Nafady is also charged with the unlawful imprisonment of three of the women.

He is also charged with 21 counts of rape, 12 charges of assault, five counts of indecent assault and three counts of theft.

It is alleged he stole from three of the women, totalling $370.

Mr Nafady is currently in immigration detention and appeared at the committal hearing flanked by guards.

His seven alleged victims are expected to give evidence, and be cross examined, during closed court hearings this week. The hearing continues.

Originally published as Accused rapist lured his six victims online, court hears