Army cadet charged over alleged Holsworthy Barracks rape

An army cadet has been suspended after he was charged with sexually assaulting a fellow cadet at the Holsworthy Barracks in southwestern Sydney.

Jack Bannerman has been charged with sexually assaulting a fellow cadet at Holsworthy Barracks.

A serving Australian ­Defence Force cadet is accused of sexually assaulting a woman from the same base before allegedly texting her to apologise and ask for her silence.

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 Barracks in southwestern Sydney.

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

Jack Bannerman has been charged with sexually assaulting a fellow cadet at Holsworthy Barracks.

“The offences are very serious and carry very serious penalties,” prosecutor Lauren Rowe told Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

“These acts were persistent and ongoing despite multiple times being told to discontinue.”

It is alleged the 19-year-old woman 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 that, 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 on Friday and appeared in court from Amber Laurel jail at Emu Plains.

Bannerman’s lawyer argued the teen cadet 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.

Solicitor Ikbal Khan told the court “it confused the hell” out of him that police accused Bannerman of being a threat to the victim if released, given Bannerman was facing only one charge and had never been ­arrested before.

Magistrate Chis Longley said the case was currently “he said/she said — at least on the face of it”, and that the woman had confided in a friend about the incident before going to the police.

“He’s said that his girlfriend would be OK with this behaviour; it would give the outward appearance if that statement was made that he’s free to do what he wants (on base),” Magistrate Longley said after reading the police facts sheet.

“The sole offence is a very serious matter indeed and if accepted he goes to jail, it’s as simple as that.”

Magistrate Longley granted Bannerman bail to live with his parents in Wodonga after they put up a $2000 surety. He must report twice a week.