SA ‘rapist’ goes on trial after police analyse DNA in a dreadlock

A dreadlock could be vital evidence in the trial of a man accused of twice raping a woman almost five years ago.

A District Court trial heard on Monday how a woman was walking through Adelaide’s Victoria Park in December 2013 when Benjamin James Heldon, 45, allegedly grabbed her from behind, threw her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

Prosecutor Emily Telfer SC told the jury that the woman allegedly punched her alleged attacker in the face, gouged his eyes and pulled out a dreadlock, Yahoo 7 reports.  

Benjamin James Heldon, 45, (pictured) is accused of allegedl;y sexually assaulting a woman in an Adelaide park in December 2013.

The court heard that DNA was extracted from the dreadlock but it took three years for police to find a match and arrest Heldon.

The court was told police later allegedly found matted hair at the scene and strands entangled in the victim’s glasses, which she lost during the sexual assault.

It was also told how forensic tests uncovered a DNA match with the hair along with swabs from the alleged victim’s hands and fingernails.

 Ms Telfer said the DNA match from the dreadlock was ‘one billion times more likely’ to come from Heldon than anyone else, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.   

Heldon was arrested on the NSW mid north coast three years after the alleged sexual assault in Adelaide

Heldon was arrested on the NSW mid north coast three years after the alleged sexual assault in Adelaide

Benjamin Heldon (pictured) has denied the sexual assault allegations

Benjamin Heldon (pictured) has denied the sexual assault allegations

By the time he was arrested, Heldon had moved to the New South Wales mid north coast near Coffs Habour. 

‘Police searched the house and located more than just images — hanging on a hook in the main bedroom was a bundle of long dreadlocks that had been cut,’ Ms Telfer told the court.

‘Numerous images of the accused were located that showed him wearing his hair in dreadlocks, that were long and hung down his back.’

The prosecutor told the court that the DNA match from the dreadlock was 'one billion times more likely' to come from Helson (pictured) than anyone else

The prosecutor told the court that the DNA match from the dreadlock was ‘one billion times more likely’ to come from Helson (pictured) than anyone else

Heldon has denied the sexual assault allegations. 

His lawyer told the court his client admitted he came into physical contact with the woman at the park that night but said the ‘mechanics of that physical interaction’ and the ‘state of mind of the accused’ will be issues in contention.

The trial continued on Tuesday, where the alleged victim began giving evidence in a closed court.

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