22-year-old man charged for alleged attempted sexual assault of a young Driver child

Police have revealed the charges for a young man accused of the attempted sexual assault of a child. Read how the 55-hour manhunt ended.

A young man has been charged after a 55-hour manhunt in the wake of an alleged “heinous” attempt to sexually assault a young child in broad daylight.

A 22-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged on Friday with attempted sexual assault and unlawful entry.

Police confirmed he will be facing charges of attempted sexual intercourse without consent, unlawful entry and aggravated assault.

He is due to face Darwin Local Court on Monday.

MAN HUNT ENDS

On Friday the man was arrested while standing in a phone box in the Palmerston area.

Police had been searching for the 22-year-old man since the alleged incident at 2.30pm, Wednesday.

It has been alleged the 22-year-old entered the property and attempted to sexually assault a child aged between six and 10.

Serious Crime Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Day said the man was disturbed by the occupants and fled on foot completely naked.

The man was described as being of Aboriginal descent, aged in his 20s, 150cm tall with a short, stocky build and cropped hair.

Sergeant Day said police flooded the Palmerston area on Friday morning and found the man in a phone box.

He said the man’s movements in the 55-hour manhunt through Palmerston were still under investigation.

Sergeant Day said it was unknown if he had been harboured by people, but confirmed “he was clothed when we found him”.

“The entire Crime Division along with Forensics and general duties have been working tirelessly since Wednesday to identify and arrest the person responsible for this incident,” Sergeant Day said.

“Police are still urging anyone with relevant CCTV to make contact on 131 444.”

He said police were working with the family of the child as they process the incident.

The man was unknown to the family prior to the alleged attempted assault but police said he had links to the Palmerston area.

“We have a family liaison and other agencies working with the family at this stage,” Sergeant Day said.

“This is a heinous incident and it’s good we can say this particular perpetrator is off the street.

“All the information indicates he was not known to any member of the family, it appears to be an opportunistic crime.”

POLICE CALL FOR RESIDENTS’ HELP

Earlier, Commander Sachin Sharma said police attended the scene immediately and had been working to find the man.

“There’s a number of witnesses, statements, forensic examination and door knocks that have been occurring overnight,” he said.

Commander Sharma said police were focusing on Driver and Elrundie avenues, Widdup Cr, Mahony Cct, Greer and Lillian courts, Waterhouse Cr and the surrounding areas.

He said they were calling for any witnesses or homeowners in the area with CCTV to come forward.

Commander Sharma said the serious nature of the incident meant police operations would be treated differently.

“Because of the serious nature and the age of the victim there are different ways to deal with this,” he said.

NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma said the serious nature of the incident required a different approach.

“When we talk about the tender age of children that takes it to different levels, so we use different experts, we use police officers talk to victims and witnesses differently.”

Commander Sharma said police were looking after the family and child involved.

“You can only imagine anyone who’s got a child or children or family experiencing this is distressing and we are helping them but the investigation will take time,” he said.

“There is nothing we are leaving unturned to get the person who’s responsible for this.”

Anyone with information or anything suspicious to report should contact police on 131 444.

Originally published as 22-year-old man charged for alleged attempted sexual assault of a young Driver child