Corey Robert Miller, Ashley Vella charged with raping woman in Labrador parklands

One of two men accused of raping a woman he arranged to meet for sex through an online classified ad has been freed on bail, despite claims he made comments that raised concerns for the safety of his co-accused and alleged victims. FULL DETAILS

A former strip club security guard charged with raping a woman he arranged to meet for sex through an online classified ad has been freed on bail.

His release was granted despite prosecutors claiming in court that he made comments during prison phone calls that raised concerns for the safety of his co-accused and alleged victims.

Corey Robert Miller was arrested and charged in March with rape, attempted rape, and fraud.

Southport Magistrates Court was told this week the 26-year-old allegedly targeted two women he met with after they responded to his online advertisement requesting sexual services in exchange for $1000.

Representing the Crown, Aleesha Buckby told the court Mr Miller allegedly assaulted the two women on January 22 and February 27 in parklands at Labrador.

Ms Buckby said it was alleged the first woman began performing oral sex but withdrew her consent when Mr Miller became forceful.

The court was told he apologised and the pair were walking back to their original meeting point when Mr Miller allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair and pulled her to the ground, trying to force her to again perform oral sex.

She soon fled and called triple-0.

A Magistrate has granted bail to Corey Robert Miller who is charged with rape, attempted rape and fraud.

Ms Buckby said the second woman’s hands were allegedly initially ziptied behind her back when Mr Miller tried to force her to perform oral sex, but were then removed at her request for subsequent sex acts in the presence of his co-accused, 28-year-old Ashley Vella.

Mr Vella faces two charges each of sexual assault while armed/in company and rape, and one of sexual assault.

The court was told it was alleged Mr Vella was present for parts of both incidents but only assaulted the second woman, with Mr Miller trying to coerce both women into performing sex acts with his co-accused despite their protests.

Ms Buckby said the two men allegedly left the second woman while she was in a public bathroom and that Mr Miller then refused to pay the agreed amount or her requested taxi fare home.

She told the court there were alleged text messages from Mr Miller to Mr Vella such as “she is ziptied, she can’t run”, and that cut zipties were found on the ground in the park.

Mr Miller – working as a security guard at a strip club at the time – had allegedly “turned against” his co-accused while in custody, the court was told.

“He’s made several alarming comments during calls which raise concerns over the safety of his co-accused ... (and) the safety of the complainants,” Ms Buckby said.

Defence barrister Matthew Hynes, instructed by Rawlings Criminal Law, said the case against his client was not straightforward and that there were several discrepancies in the alleged victims' statements.

Mr Hynes said the first woman reported previously being sexually abused and could potentially have experienced “translated memory” when initially consensual oral sex with Mr Miller became forceful, and that the second had discussed bringing sex toys to the meeting.

“I don’t know what the rape is, honestly … each time (the second woman) did positive acts to confirm or implicitly confirm what she was willing to do,” Mr Hynes said.

“The concern with her came with her after she (allegedly) wasn’t paid and she said, ‘That's not okay, if you don’t pay me I’ll go to the cops’.”

Mr Hynes said Mr Miller initially thought his co-accused had made a statement against him, and that there was no follow-up to any “empty threats” allegedly made at the time.

He said his client had no criminal history and would be unable to return to security guard work, as his licence was cancelled after the charges were laid.

The court was told Mr Miller instead planned to go to TAFE and would live with his parents if released on bail.

Magistrate Joan White granted Mr Miller’s bail on several strict conditions, agreeing it was not an open-and-shut case and that the evidence would be tested in court.

His and Mr Vella’s cases are due to return to court on August 15.