Brutal Cairns sexual assault ‘like nothing I’ve seen’

A CAIRNS man has been charged over a brutal knifepoint sexual assault which senior detectives are describing as the worst they have seen in their careers.

Ringwood Police Station. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

A CAIRNS man has been charged over a brutal knifepoint sexual assault which senior detectives are describing as the worst they have seen in their careers.

The 47-year-old victim allegedly had a knife held to her throat and pillow case put over her head by a balaclava-clad man who forced his way into her Cairns North apartment and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

Police allege the incident happened on November 20, but the man was only charged yesterday when forensic evidence linked him to the scene.

The 46-year-old accused will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.

Detective Sergeant Adrian Worth said the alleged incident was “like nothing I’ve seen before”.

“It’s at the top end of serious sexual assaults,” he said.

“You’ve got someone who is allegedly armed and has broken into someone’s home.

“I don’t think I need to explain how terrifying this would have been for the woman.”

It is alleged the man may have only been released on parole 10 days before the incident took place.

Sgt Worth said the man allegedly banged on the woman’s McLeod St unit door, then pushed his way inside when she opened it.

Following the alleged attack, the woman spoke to several witnesses then reported it to police later that day.

He said the man had been in custody for some time, but they had only received the results from forensic testing yesterday which enabled them to formally charge him.

He will appear in court this morning charged with three counts of rape. Police will object to bail as they say he poses a threat to the community.

Originally published as Brutal Cairns sexual assault ‘like nothing I’ve seen’