Girl, 10, raped in an Adelaide park after man approached her and asked where the toilets were
- Man, 29, arrested over alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl in Adelaide on April 3
- Charges include rape, aggravated indecent assault and unlawful detention
- Remanded in custody to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court later on Thursday
Police have praised the courage of a 10-year-old girl after a man was charged with her alleged rape at a park in the Adelaide suburb of Blair Athol two weeks ago.
Special Crime Investigation Branch detectives arrested the 29-year-old at his home on Wednesday night.
The man charged with two counts of rape, aggravated indecent assault, gross indecency and unlawful detention.
Police alleged the girl was attacked in the public toilets at Blair Athol Reserve in the city’s north on April 3 after she was allegedly approached by a man who asked where the toilets were.
A man has been charged in relation to the alleged rape of a 10-year-old-girl in public toilets (pictured) at Blair Athol Reserve on April 3
Chief superintendent Mark Wieszyk praised the young victim for her help in the lead-up to the arrest.
‘Victims are affected in different ways,’ he told reporters on Thursday.
‘The best way to describe this particular victim was very courageous in being able to provide information.’
Supt Wieszyk said the man was not known to police and did not resist when officers arrived at his home.
A man will face court later on Thursday in relation to the alleged rape at the reserve (pictured)
The officer said all sexual offending against children was abhorrent, and police working on the case had shown unwavering commitment to finding the alleged offender.
‘Based on things that happen like this, the desire and the professionalism of detectives that are involved in the investigation is very, very important,’ he said.
The alleged incident sparked a major police manhunt at the time.
Crime Stoppers received 58 calls after police released CCTV footage from a nearby home of a man pushing a stroller at the reserve near the time of the alleged incident.
Police publicly released CCTV of the reserve following the alleged incident on April 3
Police said no specific call led to the man’s arrest.
‘We are still working through some of those calls but there could be something small that’s in there at any time,’ Supt Wieszyk said.
Police confirmed the man is a father himself and is of Afghani descent.
The man was remanded in custody and will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court later on Thursday.
Anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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