Women ‘forced into sex’

A MAN who allegedly preyed on women he met on an online dating site, raped them and forced them to sign mobile phone contracts in their names has been committed to stand trial.

The 26-year-old Brisbane man, Callum Joseph Haggerty, was committed to stand trial in the Southport District Court on 10 counts of rape against five women and several other charges, including deprivation of liberty, fraud and stealing.

Police said the love-struck victims, who met the man on dating site oasisactive.com, were convinced to lend him money or buy multiple mobile phones in their names, which he allegedly later sold for up to $1000 each to support his gambling habit. Five of the women independently contacted police, saying they had become romantically involved with the man after he told them he was a wealthy business owner.

He then allegedly sent the women into debt of up to $12,000 before they became too afraid to leave and were forced to have non-consensual sex with him, fearing they would never see their money.

The court previously heard some of the women had allegedly stayed in the man’s company for days after the alleged rapes. A sixth woman was also allegedly defrauded.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between February and April this year last year, and in May 2015.