A man will face court today following investigations into three alleged stalking and indecent assault incidents at Ryde earlier this year, NSW Police say.
About 6pm on Sunday 19 February 2017, a 24-year-old woman was using the women’s toilets at a shopping centre on Devlin Street, Ryde.
Police will allege a man entered the adjacent cubicle and began looking at the woman from over the top of the cubicle wall.
The man ran from the toilets after the woman screamed. The incident was later reported to officers from Ryde Local Area Command, who commenced inquiries.
About 6pm on Saturday 19 August 2017, a 29-year-old woman was in a shopping centre on Devlin Street, Ryde.
Police will allege a man followed the woman and waited nearby as she went into the women’s toilets at the centre. He then allegedly followed the woman again to a nearby shop after she left the toilets.
A short time later on the same day (19 August 2017), a 41-year-old woman left the shopping centre on Devlin Street and began walking west towards Parkes Street and then into Bowden Street, when she noticed a man was allegedly following her.
When she was just past Linton Avenue on Victoria Road, a man approached her from behind. Police were told he allegedly grabbed her on the buttocks and neck and attempted to drag her into nearby bushes.
The woman broke free from the man by kicking him in the groin and hand, and then called triple zero on her mobile phone.
The woman was forced to kick and punch the man a second time after he allegedly came at her again, before he stopped and walked away towards Bowden Street.
Officers from Ryde Local Area Command arrived a short time later, but were unable to locate the man.
Following investigations, about 7.10am today, detectives from Ryde Local Area Command attended an industrial estate on Carlington Avenue, Smithfield and arrested a 21-year-old man.
He was taken to Ryde Police Station and charged with five offences including:
- Detain for advantage;
- Indecent assault; and
- Stalking / intimidation and cause fear of physical harm (x3)
Investigators also attended a home in Belmore Street, Ryde this morning today and executed a search warrant. Several items were seized for further forensic analysis.
The man was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today.
Investigations are continuing.
