Douglas Dixon: Telarah dad’s plea for bail over alleged kidnap, rape
Fresh details of a woman’s daring escape after she was allegedly kidnapped, beaten and raped have been revealed in court. It comes as the man accused of raping her made a bid for freedom, saying he had been unable to see his children.
Newcastle
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A dad accused of kidnapping and raping a woman over a “trivial” drug debt has again applied for release from prison.
Police allege father-of-10 Douglas Dixon, 30, and partner Khloe Stace, 22, kidnapped a 28-year-old woman on April 13 after she failed to repay a $750 drug debt she had racked up while waiting for a coronavirus stimulus package payment.
Police allege the couple locked her inside a bedroom at Dixon’s home in Telarah where they drugged and sexually assaulted her.
Fresh details – including how the alleged victim escaped – were revealed on Tuesday in the Supreme Court during a bail hearing for Dixon.
Dixon, from Maitland, was again refused bail during the hearing, following two failed bail attempts previously.
“It is a very serious case,” Justice Robert Hulme said.
“In short, it is alleged that for a relatively trivial debt Dixon took a young woman from her home … and took her to his own home where she was drugged and sexually assaulted.”
He said it was not a fleeting incident, according to the police facts, and she escaped after waking up inside the locked bedroom not knowing how long she had been there.
“She was able to cut through a flyscreen and get onto the roof and obtain the attention of the public,” he said.
Police arrived, following calls from the public, and had to force their way into the premises to rescue her.
Justice Hulme said tests later confirmed the alleged victim had Dixon’s semen inside her.
Justice Hulme stated it was a strong Crown case and Dixon was facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Police facts have also detailed that the woman allegedly woke from a drug induced sleep at one point during the ordeal, and was allegedly ordered to perform oral sex on Stace and was punched in the mouth by Dixon.
She was rushed to John Hunter Hospital for treatment after police found her and suffered a fractured eye socket, punctured lung and extensive bruising.
Dixon’s lawyer told the court he was the sole carer for three children and had not been able to see any family while in custody during the COVID-19 restrictions.
He appeared in court via audio visual link from Long Bay Correctional Centre hospital.
Meanwhile, Stace remains in custody. Dixon and Stace are due to appear in Newcastle Local Court later this month.
Dixon has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in company inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm, and two counts of supply prohibited drug.
Stace is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault in company inflict actual bodily harm, take/detain with intent to obtain advantage occasion actual bodily harm, take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm and possess prohibited drug.