Escort accused on rape charges
A MAN was already on bail for rape charges when he allegedly sought out the company of escorts, had sex with them and left without paying, a court has heard.
The 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fidgeted and stared at the ground in front of him when he faced Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was denied bail for 16 fresh charges including two of rape, five counts of fraud and seven counts of breaching his bail.
The latest charges occurred in August and September last year, just weeks after he was committed to stand trial in July last year for other, unrelated rape charges.
Police will allege the man used online classifieds site Locanto to locate the escorts before meeting with them.
He then allegedly raped two of the women and a third he failed to pay after they had sex.
In one case it will be alleged he dragged a woman over the centre console of a car and in another he pushed the woman’s legs apart.
Defence barrister Jason Buckland, instructed by Ashkan Tai Lawyers, told the court that due to health issues, the man would not have been able to perform the acts as described. “It would be difficult enough if it were consensual,” he said.
Mr Buckland queried the timing of the charges as police had been investigating the matters for some time.
He said police were aware of where the man lived as he had been reporting on bail.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable James Trainer objected to bail and said there was and “unacceptable risk to the public”.
Magistrate Dermot Kehoe refused bail and said the man posed a risk he would commit further offences. The matter was adjourned until April 19.