High profile Australian charged with rape: More details of the allegations

A high-profile Australian was charged with rape after his alleged victim recognised his face in a photo online.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly met the woman at the Powerhouse nightclub in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, in October 2021.

They allegedly caught a taxi back to his friend’s place and had sex once that night and twice in the morning. 

However, as Daily Mail Australia revealed at the weekend, the woman alleged the last two times were not consensual because he wasn’t wearing a condom.

Failing to wear a condom without a partner’s permission is considered sexual assault under Queensland law.

Six weeks later, the woman was perusing the internet on her phone when she saw man’s photo and recognised him as the same person who allegedly had sex with her.

The woman reported the matter to police the next day before making a formal statement. The man charged with two counts of rape on January 10.

He cannot be named under a Queensland law that prohibits the identification of those charged with alleged sexual assault or rape offences unless the case is committed for trial.

It will be alleged in court that the pair spoke on Snapchat for a few days after the encounter, but soon lost contact. 

Police will allege they have CCTV footage from the club showing the pair leaving together, and evidence the man booked a taxi. 

In Toowoomba Magistrate’s Court on January 11, the man’s defence lawyer Rowan King lobbied for certain bail conditions and handed medical documents while asking for an adjournment.

The man charged with two counts of rape on January 10. He cannot be named unless the matter is committed for trial

His bail conditions – which included a non-contact order and surrendering his passport – were not opposed by police. 

Magistrate Kay Ryan ordered a brief of evidence be delivered by February 15. The man will return to the committal call-over court on February 22.

Last year, the second Hear Her Voice report – which highlighted the experiences of women and girls across the criminal justice system – was handed down.

The report made 188 recommendations, including educational campaigns aimed to dispel rape myths, among others. 

One of the key recommendations was the ability to name people charged with sexual offences in Queensland, bringing it into line with other states and jurisdictions.