A 19-year-old Greenway man has been refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court after being charged with 32 serious sex offence and assault offences, including multiple charges of sexual intercourse without consent.
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John Deighan, a full-time student, appeared before presiding Magistrate Ken Archer on Saturday after he was arrested during a search warrant by police on Friday at his Greenway residence.
His arrest came after a 20-year-old woman told NSW Police she had been assaulted in Canberra.
The matter was referred to ACT Policing's Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse Team (SACAT).
The 32 charges including stalking, common assault, sexual assault of the second and third degree, sexual intercourse without consent, acts of indecency without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and forcible confinement.
At the time of his arrest, Deighan was on bail for other offences but the nature of these offences was not revealed during the court hearing.
The latest offences occurred over four days in February and March.
Legal Aid duty solicitor Hugh Jorgensen said the defendant was willing to abide by any special interim family violence orders.
However, in his considerations, Magistrate Archer said the risks posed as a result of the violence of the offences, the repetition and the likelihood of the victim being harassed and intimidated by the defendant "which would cause her [the victim] to be in fear" were too great to justify granting bail.
He also revoked the bail granted on the previous, undisclosed offences.
Deighan will face court again on May 17.
Officer-in-charge of ACT's sexual assault team, Detective Inspector Callum Hughes, said he wanted to encourage any victim of a sexual offence to come forward to police.
"Police recognise that instances of assault are traumatic and emotionally challenging, however we urge victims to contact police as soon as they feel comfortable to do so," he said.
"Victims can report any instance of sexual assault to police regardless of how long ago it happened - ACT Policing recognises the courage it takes in reporting abuse and takes each report seriously."
- If you or someone you know have been the victim of sexual violence, contact ACT Policing on 131 444, attend a police station or report historical matters online through the ACT Policing website.
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Sarah Lansdown
Sarah covers all stages of education in the capital, from early childhood to higher education. Previously she was a general news reporter at The Advocate in North West Tasmania. She was named Best New Journalist at the 2019 Tasmanian Media Awards for a series on paramedic shortages. Email: sarah.lansdown@canberratimes.com.au
Sarah covers all stages of education in the capital, from early childhood to higher education. Previously she was a general news reporter at The Advocate in North West Tasmania. She was named Best New Journalist at the 2019 Tasmanian Media Awards for a series on paramedic shortages. Email: sarah.lansdown@canberratimes.com.au
Peter Brewer
Telling the truth and holding agencies accountable must matter to us all. It's also important to tell the story well, and factually. Contact me at peter.brewer@canberratimes.com.au
Telling the truth and holding agencies accountable must matter to us all. It's also important to tell the story well, and factually. Contact me at peter.brewer@canberratimes.com.au
