Gold Coast crime: Coombabah man charged with alleged hotel room rape

A Gold Coast man has appeared in court on a charge of raping a woman in a hotel room and four counts of procuring sexual acts.

A GOLD COAST man accused of raping a woman in a Brisbane hotel room has fronted court.

The 58-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court this morning.

Police alleged the man used a dating site to meet up with the woman before he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

He has been charged with one count of rape in relation to the alleged incident.

The man has also been charged with four counts of procure a sexual act in relation to incidents alleged to have occurred on the Gold Coast.

Detective acting Inspector Jay Notaro said the alleged offences happened in June and July this year, after women met the alleged rapist online.

“A 58-year-old Coombabah man has appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court today, after being charged with one count of rape and four counts of procuring sexual acts by false pretences,” Insp Notaro said.

“It will be alleged the man met all of these woman on online dating sites and the offences have occurred in hotels at both here on the Gold Coast and also in Brisbane.

“During these meetings it will be alleged the victims were sexually assaulted.”

Insp Notaro asked anyone who may have been victimised in a similar way to come forward to police.

The man has been charged with allegedly raping a woman in July.

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“Police are appealing for any person who may have been the victim of such an offence to come forward and report it to police,” he said.

“Furthermore, if anyone has information on the 58-year-old Coombabah man who appeared in court today, I would ask that they make contact with police.”

He said people should let friends know if they’re meeting up with someone online as a safety measure.

“The safety of the community is of paramount importance to the Queensland Police Service, everyone in the community has a right to feel safe and to live their life without fear,” he said.

“However I ask both men and women to have a safety plan when meeting up with someone online.

“You never really know who you’re meeting up with, both men and women should tell their friends where they are going and meet in public places and be aware of their surroundings.

“If something doesn’t feel right, then my advice would be not to meet up.”

Defence lawyer Jonathan Nyst, of Nyst Legal, asked for the matter to be adjourned when the man appeared in court this morning.

He was bailed to appear in court again on October 29.