Bundaberg dad faces court over alleged beach rape of daughter’s friend

A teacher’s concerns over a student’s email about being touched inappropriately led to a father facing rape charges at Bundaberg District Court. DETAILS.

Disturbing details have emerged in court about how a beach day allegedly turned into a nightmare for a young girl at the hands of her friend’s father.

A reluctant disclosure from a child over an alleged nightmare rape by her friend’s father during a trip to the beach three years ago culminated in a trial in Bundaberg District Court this week.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, is on trial in Bundaberg District Court charged with two counts of rape on unspecified dates from June 24 and December 31, 2022, of his daughter’s best friend. He has pleaded not guilty.

On day two of the trial, the court heard accounts from a number of witnesses, including a teacher who first reported the incident to police after a conversation with the child raised a number of red flags.

In early 2023, an email exchange between the teacher and student revealed the alleged sexual nature of the incident.

The girl who was reluctant to talk about what had happened in person said in an email presented to the court as evidence that her friend’s father touched her “you-know-what”.

The teacher told the court the young girl was concerned that telling her story meant she had lost her best friend.

The victim’s father was also among witnesses called to the stand.

He was questioned on a number of text messages sent between him, the defendant, and their daughters.

Members of the jury heard the two girls often communicated with each other via their fathers’ phones, with the two fathers talking to arrange sleepovers and playdates.

The text exchanges revealed the first sleepover occurred at the defendant’s house in September 2022.

Despite a formal complaint made by the victim against the defendant in April 2023, the court heard she likely went to his house again around that time, though her father denied remembering if that was true.

He said he only learned of the nature of the conversation his daughter had with police on April 19, when the defendant confronted him at his home days later.

While the girl’s father said he could not remember the exact words the defendant said, he “asked me if I knew anything that was going on with police”.

The girl’s father agreed with the defence lawyer that the defendant had said that if he had touched the victim in some way, it would have been an accident.

When questioned further, he maintained the defendant had also said he had put his hand between the victim’s legs in order to toss her in the water.

Ms MacArthur suggested the victim’s father might be mistaken, to which he replied he was not.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Bundaberg dad faces court over alleged beach rape of daughter’s friend