A father-of-three accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl while dressed in a camouflage suit has refused to face court on Sunday.
Troy Stephen Johnson of Woongarrah on the New South Wales Central Coast was charged with multiple sex offences committed against two girls.
Police claim Johnson, 31, groomed an 11-year-old girl known to him for sex between October 2016 and April 2017 and sexually assaulted her.
In May he allegedly dressed in a full-body camouflage suit and snatched a 12-year-old girl on her way to school before sexually assaulting her in a bushland lair.
Johnson (pictured) was due to face Wyong Local Court on Sunday but refused to leave his cell
A number of items were seized during a search of a Woongarrah home (pictured), including camouflage gear allegedly worn during the attacks
Officers also reportedly seized hunting knives (pictured), boots, cable ties and a mask during their search
Johnson was due to face Wyong Local Court on Sunday but refused to leave his cell, Nine News reported.
He was arrested after a three-month investigation, with officers able to link the two attacks thanks to a detailed description provided by the 12-year-old victim.
‘Obviously she is relieved that an offender has been arrested, and it is an obvious comfort to her,’ Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett said Saturday.
‘I also want to acknowledge the bravery of the victim. She has been absolutely exceptional with the detail that she has been able to provide the investigation.’
A father-of-three (pictured) accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl while dressed in a camouflage suit has refused to face court on Sunday
Police claim Johnson (pictured), 31, groomed an 11-year-old girl known to him for sex between October 2016 and April 2017 and sexually assaulted her
Troy Johnson (pictured Friday night) allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl as she walked to school
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad arrested Johnson during a ‘very well planned’ vehicle stop at Lake Haven at about 9.30pm on Friday.
A Woongarrah home was searched following the arrest, with officers reportedly seizing a camouflage suit, hunting knives, boots, cable ties and a mask.
Police will reportedly allege they also found a rape kit inside the garage.
Johnson has been charged with 13 offences including stalking, intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm, kidnapping and child sex offences.
Johnson (pictured) was arrested after a three-month investigation, with officers able to link the two attacks thanks to a detailed description provided by the 12-year-old victim
Johnson (pictured) allegedly dragged the girl into the bushland to a ‘lair’ to rape her before she was able to escape and alarm teachers at her school
Police previously said they believed the man involved in the attacks wore the camouflage suit to carry out a ‘hunter fantasy’.
After several interviews with the two young victims, detectives said the man had been wearing a dark camouflage coloured top and pants with fake leaves attached to it, along with a matching mask, gloves and backpack.
A photo of a person in a similar suit was posted on one of Johnson’s family members social media pages, while his own account also featured hunting pictures.
It is alleged the man behind the attacks dragged the 12-year-old girl into the bushland of his lair, bound her with cable ties and raped her before she was able to escape and alarm teachers at her school.
In May he allegedly dressed in a full-body camouflage suit (pictured) and snatched a 12-year-old girl on her way to school and sexually assaulted her in a bushland lair
The man (pictured left) arrested Friday in high-vis gear is Troy Johnson (right) a Central Coast father-of-three
Police said there is a ‘possibility further victims might come forward’ following the arrest and are alleging the sexual assaults took place between late 2016 and early 2017.
The Ghillie suit worn by the man during the attacks is usually worn by military snipers trying to stay hidden for hours on end but can be bought easily at army surplus stores.
Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett said in July a lot of effort went into wearing the Ghillie suit.
‘The offender went to a fair amount of trouble to wear that particular outfit, obviously wanting to disguise his identity,’ she said.
‘As you can imagine, it has been a difficult process, particularly for the younger girl, who has bravely relived the incident over and over to help us.’
Troy Stephen Johnson (pictured) of Woongarrah on the New South Wales Central Coast was charged with multiple sex offences committed against two girls
The 12-year-old girl previously told police the man was wearing a camouflage suit similar to what is pictured
It is believed a lair was used by the man while he allegedly attacked the 12-year-old girl while dressed in a leafy ‘Ghillie’ suit.
The lair, located by police between Reeves St and Carrington St, Narara, was hidden out of sight from a nearby walking path that many students, including the 12-year-old girl, took to get to school.
The hidden lair was littered with rubbish alongside a plastic orange chair, old tyres and a make-shift tent made out of a large draped sheet.
NSW Police said on Saturday the man suffered a medical episode shortly after being arrested and was taken to Wyong Hospital for treatment.
The creepy lair (pictured) was allegedly used by the man when he attacked the 12-year-old girl
It is alleged the man dragged the girl, 12, into bushland of his lair (pictured), bound her with cable ties and raped her
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.