Port Macquarie alleged rape: Man arrested for allegedly dragging 18-year-old stranger into sand dunes while she was on her way to watch the Matildas

A man has been arrested for allegedly forcing an 18-year-old girl onto sand dunes and raping her while she was on her way to watch a World Cup match in a quiet beachside town.

Footage shows the 25-year-old accused being arrested at a home in Port Macquarie on NSW’s mid north coast at about 5.15pm on Wednesday.

The bearded man, wearing a black shirt and light brown trousers, was placed in handcuffs and escorted to an awaiting police vehicle by detectives.

Police allege the teenager was walking to watch the Matildas semi-final match against England at about 8.30pm on August 16 when the horror alleged incident unfolded.

The accused was taken tp Port Macquarie Police Station where he was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and another charge of sexually touching another person without consent.

He appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday afternoon where he was refused bail and arraigned until his next appearance on October 19.

Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet friends before the match which was shown at a live-site at the Town Beach Park Amphitheatre. 

Officers further allege that while waiting on Stewart Street, the teenager was  approached by a man she did not know, forced onto the sand dunes and sexually assaulted before the alleged attacker fled the scene on foot.

Cops confirmed officers attended to the scene shortly after the teenager reported the incident to police. 

‘Detectives attached to Mid North Coast Police District and the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad commencing Strike Force Belsham to investigate the incident,’ a statement from NSW Police reads.

Detective Inspector Peter O’Reilly said police had canvassed large areas of Port Macquarie in the search for the alleged attacker.

Police said the alleged victim was waiting to meet friends before the match which was shown at a live-site at the Town Beach Park Amphitheatre 

Police have also increased patrols along the streets near the beach since the attack.

‘All avenues of investigation are open to us and we’ve been doing a lot of work since this incident was reported to police,’ he said.

‘We’ve been working with a lot of members of the community and we’ve canvassed a lot of areas around Port Macquarie.’