Maitland couple Douglas Dixon, Khloe Stace accused kidnap and rape over $750 drug debt
A Maitland couple — accused of kidnapping, raping and holding a woman captive for two days over a drug debt — allegedly locked her in a bedroom with a rope tie, a court has heard.
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A Maitland couple — accused of kidnapping, raping and holding a woman captive for two days over a drug debt — allegedly locked her in a bedroom with a rope tie, a court has heard.
Police allege father-of-10 Douglas Dixon, 30, and partner Khloe Stace, 21, kidnapped the 28-year-old 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 facts stated Mr Dixon allegedly took the woman to his Telarah residence and left her locked in the bedroom, with a rope tied to another door to prevent her from escaping.
It’s in that bedroom where police allege the couple raped her.
Facts detailed how the woman allegedly had woken from a drug induced sleep and was on the bed naked before allegedly being ordered to perform oral sex on Stace and was punched in the mouth by Dixon.
The court heard at one point the couple allegedly left the house to use the woman’s credit card.
The alleged victim — who suffered a fractured eye socket, punctured lung and extensive bruising — was able to yell for help out of the window of the room and communicate with people outside who then called police.
When police arrived at the Capper St residence, they found the 28-year-old woman locked in a room.
She was rushed to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Following an investigation, police arrested the couple at a Rutherford property days later.
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.
While 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.
At Newcastle Local Court on Monday Stace had her matter briefly mentioned and adjourned until June, with the possibility she would make a bail application before then.
On Tuesday, Dixon’s solicitor again applied for bail for his client after a previous application was refused on Saturday.
He told the court Dixon was the sole carer for three young children and feared they would go into foster care if he stayed in custody.
He also referred to the possibility of a lengthy stay in custody and the risks given the current COVID-19 situation.
But Magistrate Peter Barnett SC stated it was a very strong prosecution case which carried a lifetime of imprisonment for the alleged offences.
He refused bail and adjourned Dixon’s matter also to June.