Bilal Jdid charged with Port Macquarie rape in sand dunes breaches bail
A man who allegedly dragged a teenager into sand dunes at Port Macquarie and sexually assaulted her has breached his bail. See what happened in court.
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A man who allegedly dragged a teenager into sand dunes at Port Macquarie and sexually assaulted her has breached his bail in Sydney.
Police allege Bilal Jdid wrestled the 18-year-old woman into the dunes on August 16, as she walked along Alban Place – an access road running alongside Town Beach – to watch a live broadcast of the World Cup match between the Matildas and England.
It is also alleged he took a photograph of the victim during the attack and later fled on his bike, at which point she rang triple-0.
Jdid was arrested a week later at a Port Macquarie address and charged with sexual intercourse without consent and sexually touch another person without consent.
The 25-year-old was initially refused bail but was later released after a successful application before Justice Ian Harrison in the NSW Supreme Court in late November.
“It’s alleged that on the day in question he (Mr Jdid) confronted the victim, an 18-year-old woman, and following some conversation with her, including taking a photograph of her on his phone, he sexually assaulted her,” Justice Harrison said at the time.
“The allegation is the applicant attempted to have sexual intercourse with a stranger on a public beach, having wrestled her to the ground … in what will be alleged to be a forceful way.”
The court was told Mr Jdid was at Port Macquarie with his employer at the time.
A crown prosecutor told the court Mr Jdid was captured on CCTV both before and after the alleged offence, while he was also identified in reference to the photo of the woman on his phone during the alleged assault.
The court was told his DNA was also found on the complainant’s clothes.
Mr Jdid’s barrister A.J. Karim said at the time if released on bail his client would live with his father-in-law and work as a panel beater in Sydney.
“Effectively it is asked he is put on house arrest and can only leave the house with two people,” Mr Karim told the court at the time.
But a crown prosecutor told the court Jdid had only been living in Australia since 2022 and had limited community ties, with just one sister living in Sydney and the rest of his family living in Lebanon.
The court was told he had no prior criminal history, but had breached his visa with the alleged offending.
Justice Harrison then granted him bail on conditions he report to police daily, comply with a home detention condition and only leave in the company of the couple who live in the home, and must not approach or attempt to contact the victim.
He was also not allowed to go within 500m of any international departure, had to surrender his passport and could not travel further north than Berowra.
A surety of $520,000 was also deposited to the court.
But in Parramatta Local Court on December 22 it was established that Jdid had breached his bail.
Magistrate Andrews continued bail but altered the conditions of the curfew meaning he will be unable to leave the house for any reason other than a personal medical emergency, to obtain medical treatment or to attend court.
In any of these cases must be accompanied by the two people he is living with.
This change means he will no longer report daily to police.
His matter returns to Port Macquarie Local Court on February 8 for charge certification.
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