Claims against accused hitchhiker rapist Garry Cook revealed

A man accused of attacking girls near the Dandenongs has been freed, as shock details of the allegations against him were aired for the first time.

Garry Cook owned Pro-Car Collision Repair Centre in Abbotsford, and is suspected of using his client’s cars, or number plates, to avoid detection. Picture: David Crosling

A man who allegedly lured teenage girls into his car and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint has been cut loose into the community.

Garry Cook, 71, was arrested in June in a major breakthrough for cold case investigators probing the series of alleged attacks on young girls near Belgrave, east of Melbourne, more than 20 years ago.

But 49 days later, he has been granted bail in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, despite fierce opposition from police who fear he could strike again.

Details of the allegations against him were aired for the first time, including how he preyed on two 15-year-old girls walking alone, just weeks apart in 1998.

It comes as the court heard Mr Cook would likely face further charges as more women had come forward since his arrest was made public.

On September 24, 1998, Mr Cook offered a lift to a 15-year-old girl who was trying to hitch a ride on Belgrave-Gembrook Rd in Clematis to Emerald.

Garry Cook allegedly lured teenage girls into his car and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint. Picture: Ch9news

She told police that when she questioned him driving in the wrong direction, he grabbed her hair and pulled her head down towards his thigh, before pushing a small silver handgun against her temple.

Police allege he then drove to a remote dirt track where he sexually assaulted her at gunpoint, before dropping her off near Emerald.

In eerily similar circumstances, months later on December 1, the court heard another 15-year-old girl walking to a bus stop in Belgrave South accepted a ride from Mr Cook shortly after 7am.

He is accused of producing a pistol and making her crouch in the footwell where he covered her with a blanket.

The court heard he then drove to a paddock, made her cover her eyes, before forcing her onto a mattress in the back of the car and sexually assaulting her.

When he was finished, he dropped her back near the Belgrave train station where she contacted police.

Detective Senior Constable Shaun O’Meara told the court how the complainants were “distraught” at the prospect Mr Cook could be freed on bail.

“The accused held and terrorised both complainants for over 40 minutes — both believing it was going to be their last minutes of their life,” Senior Constable O’Meara said.

He said Mr Cook was in his late 40s at the time and living in Menzies Creek, just kilometres from where the crimes took place.

Senior Constable O’Meara said Mr Cook owned Pro-Car Collision Repair Centre in Abbotsford and is suspected of using his client’s cars or number plates to avoid detection.

He said the police case against Mr Cook was strong, with DNA taken from him following his arrest identified as a match to DNA found on both young girls at the time.

Raids on Mr Cook’s business and Drouin home address in June also uncovered an image of a maroon 4WD matching the description of the vehicle he allegedly used in one of the attacks, he said.

The image was part of a gallery titled “landscaping April to May 1998” in Menzies Creek, where he then lived with his wife and two children.

The court heard Mr Cook is a father of eight children with four different women.

His lawyer Emily Clark pushed for his release, saying he needed to help support his 30-year-old partner, who he has a six-year-old girl and one-year-old boy with.

Magistrate Kieran Gilligan granted bail, citing Mr Cook’s strong family ties, delays in the case and his limited criminal history.

He was ordered to stay with his sister, Diedre Hodge, who coughed up a $500,000 surety to secure his release.

Mr Cook will have to report to Pakenham police station three times a week and stick to a 9pm-6am curfew.

He is charged with multiple counts of rape, unlawful imprisonment and make threats to kill.

His case will return to court in November.