Craig Emberton: truck driver allegedly robbed, assaulted, sex worker at knifepoint

A truck driver has faced the ACT Magistrates court accused of assaulting and robbing a sex worker at knifepoint.

A truck driver has faced court charged with robbing and assaulting a sex worker at knifepoint.

Callwell man Craig Emberton, 34, is charged with aggravated robbery and sexual assault in the third degree and fronted court on Tuesday via video link.

Mr Emberton did not enter any pleas and applied for bail.

The court heard the defendant worked as a truck driver and had no criminal history.

The prosecution told the court following the alleged incident the sex worker was “too afraid to leave her residence” and said they expect further charges to be laid against Mr Emberton.

While denying bail Magistrate Louise Taylor said the defendant’s alleged actions did not appear to be motivated by money and instead appeared to be borne out of a “desire to control and degrade women.”

The defendant was seen holding his head in his hands after learning he would face remand in custody.

Truck driver Craig Emberton has been charged with assaulting and robbing a sex worker . Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

According to the statement of facts tendered to the court Mr Emberton arranged to meet the woman at her residence for the purpose of procuring sex on Friday March 25.

Mr Emberton allegedly arrived at the residence at 4pm, and once he entered the woman’s home he pulled a knife from his pocket and demanded money from her.

The woman complied and gave the man $430 in cash.

Following this Mr Emberton allegedly ordered the woman to take off her clothes to have sex with him and placed his knife on the table.

At this point the woman allegedly told Mr Emberton to use a condom for his protection, and placed a condom on his penis and allegedly began to have sexual intercourse with her without consent.

Police allege at one point the Mr Emberton asked the woman if she was “safe” and she did not reply.

At this point it is alleged he removed his condom without the consent of the woman and continued to engage in sexual intercourse.

The statement of facts allege Mr Emberton forced the woman to engage in oral sex.

Following this it is alleged Mr Emberton demanded the woman’s phone and proceeded to delete her call log and messages between him before leaving the residence at 4:13pm taking the knife, cash and used condom with him.

Magistrate Louise Taylor has denied Mr Emberton bail.

After the alleged incident the woman contacted her phone service provider to retrieve the man’s number, attended Canberra Hospital for examination, and reported the incident to police.

Mr Emberton was arrested by officers attached to ACT Policing’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team (SACAT) on Monday night.

The statement of facts allege during his interview with police he agreed he contacted the woman via an online escort site and then met her with a knife with the purpose of taking money and agreed he deleted call logs and messages between him and the woman off her phone.

However in his interview he denied pulling a knife on her, taking money, or having sexual intercourse with her.

He allegedly told police he was having financial difficulties and was “too embarrassed” to ask his friends or family for support.

In a statement, officer in charge of SACAT Detective Inspector Callum Hughes encouraged victim-survivors of sex related crimes to come forward to police when they were comfortable to do so.

“Police recognise the courage that is required to report your experience of assault and want to reassure victims that we take all matters seriously,” Detective Inspector Hughes said.

“Support services are offered to all victims and interpreters can be arranged if English is not your first language.”

Mr Emberton will re-appear in court on April 21.