Police have charged a man, 52, after the alleged sexual assault of a child in Tennant Creek

Northern Territory Police have charged a man in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a young child in Tennant Creek on Wednesday. Latest update.

Police are still searching for three men who fled the scene. Picture: Jason Walls

January 9, 2024: Northern Territory Police have charged a man in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a young child in Tennant Creek on Wednesday.

A witness contacted police after allegedly hearing a child scream before a man was seen running from the scene.

Police took a 52-year-old man into custody, who was assisting with inquiries into the matter.

He has since been charged with gross indecency against a child younger than 10, and aggravated assault.

The 52-year-old was remanded in custody and is expected to appear at the Alice Springs Local Court on February 14.

Barkly MLA Steve Edgington reacted to the alleged incident on his Facebook page.

“The community is absolutely shocked and devastated with news that the NT Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a young child that occurred in Tennant Creek,” he posted.

“Our thoughts are with the child and their family during this difficult time.”

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour also expressed her horror at the allegations, calling for bipartisan co-operation to improve outcomes for Tennant Creek.

“Enough is enough,” Ms Scrymgour said.

“The allegations here are extremely serious and very concerning. There’s got to be change. Every child has the right to safety. The community needs to come together to make some changes.”

“What the Tennant Creek community doesn’t need right now is for their politicians and representatives to start fighting each other. (We need) people to work together to come up with solutions, not for politicians to bicker and puff out their chest.”

She called for the Barkly Regional Deal, a $60m infrastructure initiative, to be amended to provide more funding for housing and other drivers of social dysfunction.

In 2018 there was national outrage after a 24-year-old man raped a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek, prompting a visit from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the remote town of 3000 people.

The man pleaded guilty to the horrific attack and was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2020.

Online footage emerges of alleged assault

Northern Territory Police are seeking information following an assault in Alice Springs at the weekend after footage of the alleged incident made its way onto social media.

A 40-year-old female was allegedly assaulted by another, unknown female, on the corners of South Terrace and Kempe Street between the hours of 1am and 3am on Saturday, February 2.

The alleged victim attended Alice Springs Hospital suffering from head and chest injuries following the incident.

Police in particular would like to speak to the person who uploaded footage of the alleged assault to social media platforms.

Police are urging anyone who has information on the alleged assault, the recording of the footage, or who witnessed anything in the area to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2400012388.

Anonymous tips can also be made through CrimeStoppers.

Roadhouse raided

February 2, 2024: A Central Desert roadhouse has been left in tatters after its doors were ripped off and its alcohol plundered overnight.

Just before 2.30am on Friday, police received a report from the manager of the Erldunda Roadhouse regarding an alleged incident of unlawful entry and theft and their premises.

According to the report, a silver Toyota Prado with a concealed license plate was allegedly used in an attempt to gain access to the roadhouse.

The offenders allegedly used ratchet straps to secure the vehicle to the front doors, ripping the doors from the wall and causing significant damage.

Police allege the offenders proceeded to steal a substantial quantity of alcohol before fleeing.

Strike Force Viper are actively investigating the matter.

Police have urged anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area or have dashcam footage of the silver Prado to contact them on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Grassfires lit at The Gap

February 1, 2024: NT Police are calling for information after a number of grass fires around Todd River on Tuesday were allegedly deliberately lit.

Emergency services were called to the scene following reports of a female allegedly lighting the fires in The Gap area.

Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service quickly extinguished the blazes while the woman was apprehended by police.

The woman allegedly assaulted a police officer during the arrest but she didn’t sustain any injuries.

Northern Territory Police are calling for witnesses in the vicinity of Heavitree Gap and the Todd River between South Terrace, Palm Circuit and Len Kittle Drive, on Tuesday 30 January 2024 between 12:30PM and 1:30PM.

Anyone in those areas at the time that witnessed any suspicious activity or may have dashcam footage are to contact police or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers.

Wild night in Alice Springs

February 1, 2024: It has been a night of chaos in Alice Springs involving out of control utes and allegedly, a samurai sword outside a popular pub.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and will face court after an alleged incident involving a samurai sword outside of Uncles Tavern on Wednesday night.

Police were called to the drinking hole at about 9.50pm when the man was allegedly seen waving the sword erratically in the air.

NT Police in a statement said the man was taken to Alice Springs police station where he was allegedly found in possession of cannabis.

The man will face court on weapons and drug possession charges.

A short time later at about 10pm, a black Toyota HiLux was seen doing burnouts near a park in Gillen before the driver lost control and the vehicle ended up on its side.

Police and Ambulance services were called with paramedics treating five occupants of the vehicle at the scene.

A 21-year-old male driver was arrested and taken to Alice Springs Hospital with what is believed to be minor injuries.

Police said the man had his blood taken, with alcohol expected to be a factor in the incident.

Man performs citizens arrest after business targeted

January 29, 2024: An Alice Springs tourist park worker has allegedly been forced to take matters into his own hands by performing a citizen’s arrest after being caught up in the town’s ongoing fight against crime.

An NT Police spokesman said four men approached the business’s reception building on Larapinta Drive and damaged the front window and security screen at about 3.30am on Sunday.

One of the men then entered the building and allegedly began stealing bottles of alcohol and passing them through the window to the group outside.

Upon hearing the disturbance, the alleged victim entered the office area and was confronted by the man, who allegedly armed himself with a chair and threw it at him.

The spokesman said the alleged victim then performed a citizen’s arrest and a 21-year-old was taken to the Alice Springs watch house by police.

A 21-year-old was taken to the Alice Springs watch house by police. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Investigators are now calling for help from the public to locate the other three men who fled the area.

Meanwhile, police have arrested three teenagers and a 12-year-old boy after an alleged aggravated burglary in Tennant Creek last week.

Officers first received reports of two men armed with sticks and timber threatening a resident in Casey St.

The men entered the property and stole alcohol and cigarettes in the early hours of Friday morning.

The spokesman said the alleged victim was able to disarm one of the men, suffering a cut to his arm in the process, before the men fled the scene.

Police attended and established a crime scene before “witness’s statements indicated a pattern of behaviour was occurring in the area” and they began monitoring the street and surrounding area.

About 24 hours later, police say up to five people again attended the same residence and allegedly stole further items and attempted to flee.

But officers set up a cordon to block their escape and arrested a 19-year-old man along with three boys aged, 14, 13, and 12.

Superintendent Mark Grieve said arrests were “once again the result of fantastic proactive work from the attending members”.

“The community can rest assured we will be relentless in identifying and doing all we can to hold these offenders accountable for their actions,” he said.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Police have charged a man, 52, after the alleged sexual assault of a child in Tennant Creek