Alleged app rapist chooses bizarre exit method outside court

A man charged with 64 sexual abuse offences relating to women he met through dating apps has made an unusual exit from court.

A Perth man, appearing in court on 64 alleged sexual abuse charges, picked a bizarre exit method as he left court on Tuesday.

Benjamin Nathaniel Bruce, 23, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court for the first time since being charged in May over the alleged offences committed against nine women.

Benjamin Nathaniel Bruce, 23, leaves Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday after a brief appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

The hearing itself was relatively uneventful, with Mr Bruce bailed to reappear in the same court in July, but he adopted an unusual method to avoid waiting media outside the Hay St court complex.

Mr Bruce, his features concealed by a mask, sunglasses, baseball cap, and hood, avoided questions from reporters before jumping on a longboard and zipping up a side street.

Mr Bruce zipped up a side street on the longboard, which may have been motorised. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

He's due back in court on July 18, although he may not be there in person due to work commitments. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

Western Australia Police allege he committed the abuse against the women he met online between 2016 and this year.

The long list of charges includes 12 counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent, nine counts of endanger health, life, or safety, six counts of assault and five of aggravated stalking.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch previously told ABC radio that police were conducting further investigations.

“We’ve found a significant amount of images and videos on devices, and the special crime team is currently working through those images to see if we can identify more (complainants),” he said.

“People should be able to date and do it freely and happily.”

Officers also searched Mr Bruce’s home in the southern Perth suburb of Treeby, where they allegedly uncovered electronic storage devices containing images and videos.

One mobile phone contained more than 232,000 images and 9300 videos, according to police.

Mr Bruce is due to appear next on July 18 but may not be there in person, as the court was told he works FIFO.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.

If you are or have been a victim of sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being abused, contact police on 131 444.

Originally published as Alleged app rapist chooses bizarre exit method outside court