Crescent Head: Man, 50, charged after woman allegedly kidnapped and raped before being released when a ransom was paid

Police allege a man left a ransom note before kidnapping a woman and raping her before she was released after the money was paid. He has been arrested after a two-hour manhunt on the Mid-North Coast.

The man faced Kempsey Local Court on Thursday where he was refused bail. (File picture)

A man has allegedly kidnapped a woman and raped her before allowing her to leave after a ransom was paid.

Police allege the man attended a Mid-North Coast home on Wednesday morning where he allegedly “detained” the woman before leaving a ransom note and forcing the woman into a car.

They allege he then sexually assaulted her before the ransom was paid and the woman was released at Crescent Head about noon.

The alarm was raised shortly after the woman was released and Mid-North Coast police began a two-hour manhunt before a 50-year-old man was arrested on Main Rd at Crescent Head about 2pm.

He was taken to Kempsey police station where he was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault – deprive liberty, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – people there, take/detain person with intent to hold to ransom, and demand with menaces intend obtain gain/cause loss.

He was refused police bail to appear before Kempsey Local Court on Thursday where he was again refused bail to reappear on March 19.