source : the age
Three teenage boys have been charged over the alleged rape of a girl at a home in Sydney’s south-west suburbs on the weekend, one week after a trio of eastern suburbs teens were accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old.
The boys, all aged 17, are accused of raping a 17-year-old girl at a home in the Macarthur region on Saturday, following an investigation that led to the arrests of the three boys in raids of homes across the south-west on Wednesday. The teens were taken to Narellan police station.
One of the boys faces 11 charges over the alleged sexual incident, including six counts of aggravated sexual assault in the company of others, three counts of sexual intercourse without consent, sexually touch another person without consent, and carrying out a sexual act without consent with another person.
Another boy was charged with eight offences, including six counts of aggravated sexual assault in the company of others, sexual intercourse without consent, and common assault. A third boy faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault in the company of others.
The group, none of whom can be legally identified, were refused bail on Wednesday to appear before a children’s court on Thursday.
Electronic devices and other items from the boys’ homes were seized by detectives in raids on Wednesday, and are expected to be reviewed as police gather evidence in the case.
It follows the arrest of three Scots College students, a 13-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys, last Thursday over an alleged attack of a 14-year-old girl in an eastern suburbs alleyway in July. The alleged attacks are not linked.
The 13-year-old and one of the 14-year-olds was charged with aggravated sexual assault in the company of others, and two counts of aggravated sexual touching of another person. The other 14-year-old was charged with a single count each of the same offences. The boys were granted conditional police bail to appear in a children’s court on Tuesday.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.
