Six hours of hell: Police say young life shattered by horrific gang rape

A Sydney teenage girl’s Christmas shopping trip turned into a six-hour ordeal which will torment her for life after police allege she was gang-raped by four males.

Sex Crimes Squad have charged four males over an alleged violent sexual assault which lasted over six hours in Sydney’s west in December 2024. Picture: NSW Police

A teenage girl’s Christmas shopping trip turned into a six-hour ordeal which will torment her for life after police allege she was gang-raped by four males.

The 17-year-old girl was walking through the bustling Westfield shopping centre at Liverpool last December, when a teenage boy allegedly struck up a conversation.

After some pleasant chit-chat, the 16-year-old boy allegedly suggested they go to the girl’s car, with no hint as to what would happen next.

Inside the girl’s car, police allege the boy terrorised and sexually assaulted her, at times video calling three mates to brag and show them what was going on.

It was 5.30pm, and this was only the beginning of the girl’s harrowing evening.

Police allege the teenage boy told the distressed girl to drive him to a nearby park on the outskirts of the suburb, where he assured her he would leave.

But at the park, the abuse allegedly continued when the mates he video called got in the car. One of them was only 14.

A shaken boss of the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, said police would allege that for the next few hours, the group drove around the city’s southwest “erratically”, while taking turns sexually assaulting the girl.

She said what police allege took place inside that car was so harrowing, even seasoned investigators were rattled by it.

Sex Crimes Squad have charged four males over an alleged violent sexual assault. Picture:: NSW Police

The alleged gang rape took place over six hours. Picture: NSW Police

“They’re in company, the degradation and the sexual acts they (allegedly) committed on this poor young girl in a pack, it’s horrific,” Det-Supt Doherty said.

“The four of them acted together creating fear on the victim … and at times there was more than one person offending against this poor young girl.”

At 11.30pm when the males fled, the girl called a friend who took her to Liverpool Police Station and Strike Force Dungannon was set up to investigate.

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell praised the bravery of the girl who has spent six months working with investigators, and the “meticulous” work of detectives in gathering evidence to put before the court.

“A horrific crime of this nature drives our investigators to be meticulous in gathering evidence in order to get an irrefutable conviction,” Mr Thurtell said.

“Our thoughts are with the victim and her family who will undoubtedly have to live with this sickening attack for the rest of their lives.”

Five days after the alleged attack, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old were arrested in Condell Park and Miller.

The four males allegedly continued to sexually assault the woman in the car as they drove around the area. Picture: NSW Police

The 16-year-old was charged with 24 offences, including nine counts of sexual intercourse without consent, and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault in company.

On the same day, detectives also arrested a 14-year-old boy at a home in Miller.

He was charged with 10 offences including seven counts of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault in company and inflicting actual bodily harm.

Both were refused bail and appeared in a children’s court the following day. They have remained in custody ever since but have not entered pleas.

At the park, two other males got into the car, who also allegedly sexually assaulted the girl. Picture: NSW Police

Det-Supt Doherty said detectives spent the next six months, up until this week, working with the girl and gathering information, before they were able to make two more arrests.

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old man was arrested at Sadleir and later charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual assault in company.

The man, who was underage at the time of the alleged offence, was refused bail when he faced Campbelltown Children’s Court yesterday. He has not yet entered pleas.

The same morning at Heckenberg, Adam Abdul-Hamid, 19, was charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. He is yet to enter pleas.

Abdul-Hamid appeared in Liverpool Local Court yesterday when he was refused bail

Outside court, his lawyer Muhammad Tehseldar said his client “maintains his innocence”.

“These are serious matters which are presently before the court. Under the circumstances, it is not appropriate to comment,” Mr Tehseldar said.

Det-Supt Doherty said the alleged victim had been “incredibly brave”, and that she had a strong family supporting her, along with the professional assistance of police and social workers.

But she said the girl would never be the same.

“This type of (alleged) offending will affect her for life,” she said.

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Originally published as Six hours of hell: Police say young life shattered by horrific gang rape