A 16-year-old boy has been charged with rape after a jogger was allegedly thrown to the ground and sexually assaulted in Melbourne.
The woman claims she heard someone come up behind her as she jogged underneath a bridge in Jacana Reserve in Melbourne’s north on August 14, police said.
She was subsequently thrown to the ground by the man and sexually assaulted.
Victorian Detective Inspector Mark Burnett from the Sexual Crimes Squad commended the woman’s response to her attacker.
‘She is a very brave woman and we were especially impressed with the way she was able to assist police with our inquires and provide a very accurate statement,’ he told reporters on Friday.
‘And the way she was able to fight and run from the scene.’
The woman was able to get away and ran to a car park, where two members of the public called police.
She was taken to hospital with minor injuries, including scratches and pain in her shoulders.
Police wanted to speak with a man seen in CCTV footage in connection with a sex attack on a female jogger in Melbourne
Police released these images as they continued their search
Police are zeroing in on Jacana in the search, and have assessed CCTV footage from the area
The Air Wing and Dog Squad searched the area but were unable to spot the man.
Police on Tuesday carried out a search warrant at a home in Melbourne’s north.
The teen boy was arrested and charged with rape, stalking, false imprisonment, common law assault, recklessly cause injury, detention for a sexual purpose and two counts of sexual assault.
Police earlier released images of an unidentified man wearing a dark jumper and pants who they wanted to speak to as part of the investigation.
‘This is extremely concerning behaviour for Victoria Police and also the wider community,’ he said.
‘If the offender’s watching this … we’d ask for them to come forward and contact police.’
Investigators have already undertaken a CCTV survey of the area.
Anyone with information about the attack or who recognises the offender is urged to contact Victoria Police.
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