Dad punches man accused of drugging, assaulting daughter, 13

An enraged father allegedly punched a man accused of drugging and indecently assaulting his 13-year-old daughter in Perth.

An enraged father allegedly tracked down and punched a man accused of drugging and indecently assaulting his 13-year-old daughter after luring her from a shopping centre.

Child Abuse Squad officers arrested Jeremy John Rowe, 44, at his Thornlie home, in southeastern Perth, last Thursday.

Police allege Rowe struck up a conversation with the young girl at a Thornlie Shopping Centre before luring her away to a nearby skate park on Sunday September 27.

It is alleged Rowe then gave the girl cannabis before indecently assaulting her.

Later that afternoon, it is alleged the girl’s father went looking for Rowe and found him at an address, then allegedly punched the accused offender in the face.

Rowe fled the scene and police later attended a location where they found the young girl unconscious and transferred her to a Perth hospital.

WA child abuse squad police arrest Jeremy John Rowe at his home in Thornlie, southeastern Perth. Picture: WA Police.

Four days after the alleged drugging and indecent assault of the girl, 13, police arrested Jeremy John Rowe last Thursday. Picture: WA Police.

Perth police remove bags of evidence from the Thornlie home of the accused child offender, Picture: WA Police.

Four days later, child abuse detectives went to the home where Rowe, who is unemployed, lived with his mother and arrested him.

Footage of the raid showed police escorting Rowe from the house and taking bags of evidence from the property.

They charged Rowe with six offences, including two counts each of procuring a child to engage in sexual behaviour and indecently deal with a child.

Rowe is also charged with one count each of supplying cannabis and stupefying a child with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The accused was remanded in custody and is due to appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on October 22.

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