Army cadet Jack Bannerman to stand trial over alleged Holsworthy Barracks rape

An army cadet who was suspended after he was charged with sexually assaulting a fellow cadet at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney’s southwest will stand trial.

An Australian Defence Force cadet accused of sexually assaulting a woman from the same base before allegedly texting her to apologise and ask for her silence will fight the matter at trial.

Jack Bannerman, 19, has been suspended from the army after police allege he was “persistent” in his pursuit and alleged assault of a young female colleague at the Holsworthy Defence Barracks in Sydney’s southwest.

Jack Bannerman will face trial after he was charged with sexually assaulting a fellow cadet at Holsworthy Barracks.

Bannerman, who is the son of a serving police officer, has been charged with one count of sexual assault after the alleged incident on base in February.

The teenager appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday via AVL with his defence lawyer Alan Hands who entered a formal plea of not guilty, committing Bannerman to stand trial against the charge.

He has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial over the charge.

During a bail hearing in April, the court heard a 19-year-old woman allegedly invited Bannerman and another cadet to her room on the night of February 23.

Only Bannerman accepted and the pair spent time talking and eating.

The court heard, despite her initial protests, Bannerman is accused of forcing the woman to have sex.

Afterwards, Bannerman allegedly sent the woman a text message apologising and asking her not to tell anyone. The court heard he also allegedly told her his “girlfriend would be OK with his behaviour”.

He was arrested at the barracks in April and appeared in court from Amber Laurel jail at Emu Plains.

The court heard he had a clean criminal record and was a person of good character, given he was admitted into the ADF.

Originally from regional Victoria, Bannerman has been based in Sydney since joining the army.

The court was told he came from a “stable background” and had “strong community ties” to the NSW-Victorian border town of Wodonga, where his father is a police officer.

He was granted bail in April with a $2000 surety and is currently living with his parents in Wodonga.