Mid-North Coast businessman in 40s faces Taree court on 42 charges including rape, sex assaults

A Mid-North Coast man returning to Australia from a South Asia trip was arrested on the drive home and charged with 42 offences against a woman, including rape and assault in company.

The man faced Taree Local Court and bail was denied.

A Mid-North Coast businessman returning to Australia from a South Asia trip has been arrested on the drive home and charged with more than 40 serious offences, including raping a woman.

He faced Magistrate Allison Hawkins on Tuesday in a bid to be released on bail.

The man is unable to be identified for legal reasons.

Defence lawyer Shelley Watts told the court the man in his early 40s had several businesses in Port Macquarie and across the region.

Ms Watts said the accused had no criminal history and could live at Crescent Head.

She said the allegations were serious and her client was unlikely to get a trial for at least 18 months.

The man has been charged with 42 offences allegedly relating to the same victim. Picture: iStock

Ms Watts indicated to the court her client would be fighting charges which include sexual touching and sexual intercourse without consent, at the least.

Court documents reveal all 42 charges relate to one alleged victim.

Charges include choking a person with recklessness, contravening a prohibition in a court order and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The man also faces two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in the Port Macquarie area between late 2019 and early this year.

Ms Hawkins denied bail and adjourned the case to April 18.

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