Then schoolgirl details being followed and allegedly assaulted after being forced into car

A young girl was “kicking and screaming” as she was allegedly being dragged into the car of an older male before he sexually assaulted her, a court has heard.

Burnie magistrates and supreme court file, Burnie court illustrative, Burnie supreme, Burnie magistrates court 2025. Picture: Elise Kaine

A man was smiling as he assaulted a schoolgirl who was telling him to stop after he followed her in his car, a court has heard.

James David Perry has been charged with eight counts of rape, six counts of penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person, two of indecent assault and more.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were alleged to have occurred in 2018-19 against six school-aged girls.

One alleged victim wept in the witness stand on Wednesday as the court was shown footage of her police interview at Devonport police station from 2020.

Burnie magistrates and supreme court. Picture: Elise Kaine

In the video, the then 14-year-old told a detective of the night Mr Perry allegedly “dragged” her into his car and sexually assaulted her while she told him to stop.

The schoolgirl was going for a walk after dinner in Railton when Mr Perry asked her to meet up and she said no because she “did not trust him one bit”.

Mr Perry then allegedly used Snapchat maps to find the girl and follow her in his car before pulling up in front of her and “dragging” her by the wrist into the ute.

The girl told police Mr Perry “kept trying to touch me and I said no I don’t want to do this because I was 14 at the time”

“He kept going, I kept saying no.”

She said Mr Perry had a smile on his face when she was telling him to stop.

“I was pushing him away, because I was so little, like I was a little girl last year and he was so big he had it over me and he just wouldn’t stop.”

She said she was “kicking and screaming” while Mr Perry allegedly dragged her by her wrist into the car at Railton, but no one was around to hear.

After the alleged assault, Mr Perry allegedly continued to “harass” the girl through text messages and phone calls.

“He wanted to date me and for me to send nudes and meet up to f... him and stuff,” she said.

The girl then told her father that Mr Perry was continuing to “harass” her and would not leave her alone.

The alleged victim’s father took to the stand and told the court how he went to a Sassafras property to confront Mr Perry about the accusations.

Mr Perry denied any sexual activity with the man’s daughter and said any time the pair had been on drives together that there was another male present.

The trial continues on Thursday.

Originally published as Then schoolgirl details being followed and allegedly assaulted after being forced into car