Sex Crimes Squad detectives are renewing their appeal for public assistance as an investigation into a string of sexual assaults on the Central Coast nearly 30 years ago ramps up.
Police are aware of six offences that occurred between 1997 and 2000, which police believe were committed by the one offender:
- About 7.25am on Saturday 4 October 1997, a 23-year-old woman was approached by an unknown man along a pathway at Shelly Beach, who forcibly and indecently touched the woman and then fled the scene.
- About 9.45am on Friday 28 February 1998, a 52-year-old woman was sunbaking on Forresters Beach when she approached by a naked man. He covered the woman's face and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene.
- Shortly after 6pm on Friday 30 October 1998, a 16-year-old girl was walking up a bush track at Forresters Beach when she was approached by an unknown man. The man pushed the girl to the ground, before sexually assaulting her and fleeing the scene.
- Between 2.30pm and 3pm on Wednesday 14 April 1999, a 16-year-old girl was walking along a bush track at Budgewoi Beach when she was approached by an unknown man. The man forced the girl into the sand and kicked, punched and indecently touched her before fleeing the scene in a white vehicle. During the man may have sustained an injury to his hand consistent with a bite mark.
- Between 10.30am and 11.30am on Saturday 28 April 1999, three young girls were walking along a trail at Putty Beach near Kilcare when they were approached by a naked man. As the man ran towards the girls, two were able to flee, but a 16-year-old tripped and was allegedly sexually assaulted by the man.
- About 7.20am on Friday 17 March 2000, a 77-year-old woman was walking along Wairakei Road in Wambera when she was approached by an unknown man. The man grabbed the woman and pulled her into nearby bushland; however, the woman's screams alerted a nearby resident, and the man fled the scene.
In each incident, the man was described as being in his 40s at the time, which would place him in his mid-70s today.
He was reported to be of Caucasian appearance with a tanned complexion, of solid build, with light-coloured hair, and standing between 170cm and 180cm tall.
Police believe the man also has intimate knowledge of the Central Coast, Hunter Region and Forster area.
The assaults were initially investigated under Strike Force Northgate before the matter was referred to the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad under Strike Force Caphs in 2022.
Since then, detectives have pursued a range of investigative avenues, and with those lines of inquiry now exhausted, they are making a public appeal for information.
As part of that appeal, detectives have released an image of a Toyota utility believed to be linked to the man. They also believe he used a white Hyundai Excel in two of the offences.
Anyone who recognises the man's description, or knows someone with access to either of these vehicles, is urged to contact police
Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said she hopes the renewed appeal, together with new investigative tools and technologies, will give detectives a crucial opportunity to advance this case.
"Police never give up on seeking justice for victims. No matter how much time has passed, we continue to pursue every available avenue to identify those responsible for serious crimes," Det Supt Jayne Doherty said.
"We recognise that as time passes, people's circumstances and allegiances change. Relationships shift, families grow apart, and individuals who may not have been willing or able to assist years ago may now feel differently. That's why we're renewing this appeal today."
Anyone with information about this case that may assist investigators are urged to come forward
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
