Police allege couple raped, exploited two young girls

A former couple in their 50s has been charged with a string of historical sexual assaults against two young girls, with police alleging they documented some of the attacks over a five-year period.

Police have arrested and charged a 53-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman with historical child sex offences. Picture: File photo

A former couple in their 50s has been charged with a string of historical sexual assaults against two young girls, with police alleging they documented some of the attacks over a five-year period.

Detectives from the Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit charged the pair with the historical child sex offences earlier this month, following extensive investigations as part of Operation Whiskey Soundview.

It will be alleged that between 2011 and 2016, a 53-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman committed offences against two young girls known to them.

A victim reported the alleged offending to police in May this year.

Detectives charged the 53-year-old man in Townsville on July 7.

On July 9, detectives travelled to Mackay and executed a search warrant at a Bucasia property, before taking the 57-year-old woman into custody.

The pair have been arrested and charged with numerous child sex offences.

The 57-year-old woman has been charged with four counts of involving children in making child exploitation material, three counts each of rape (domestic violence offence), taking child for immoral purposes, and one count each of indecent treatment of a child under 16 (expose), indecent treatment of child under 16 (procure to commit), strangulation, common assault, and deprivation of liberty.

She is due to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court on July 27.

The 53-year man was charged with 46 counts of rape (domestic violence offence), seven counts of take child for immoral purposes, three counts of involving children in making child exploitation material, two counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count each of possess child exploitation material and stalking.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Rockhampton Court on July 24.

Officer in charge of the Cairns CPIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Gooiker said the Queensland Police Service was committed to protecting vulnerable young people.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Gooiker, head of the Cairns Child Protection Investigation Unit. Picture Emily Barker

“We will continue to investigate all reports of offences against children, and hold offenders to account,” Sergeant Gooiker said.

“These people have shown incredible bravery in coming forward and speaking to police, and we encourage anyone who has any knowledge of this type of offending or has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward so we can assist them.”

Originally published as Police allege couple raped, exploited two young girls