Daily Star

Brit girl’s six-week rape hell

GIRL, 22, ESCAPES OUTBACK ‘PSYCHO’

- By JERRY LAWTON Chief Crime Correspond­ent jerry.lawton@dailystar.co.uk

A BRIT backpacker was held captive by her rapist ex-lover in the Aussie outback for six weeks.

The woman, from Liverpool, was rescued after walking “like a zombie” into a petrol station.

A BRITISH backpacker staged a “fill-and-fly” flit from a petrol station to escape a rapist who had held her captive in Australia for six weeks.

The 22-year-old was weeping uncontroll­ably as she walked inside with two black eyes and strangulat­ion marks on her neck.

Horrified staff said she looked like a “zombie” and appeared to be in a “trance-like” state as she told them she had no money.

After filling up her Mitsubishi Pajero, she deliberate­ly drove off without paying. Garage staff immediatel­y alerted police who stopped the vehicle with the girl at the wheel.

They found her suspected abductor hiding in a secret compartmen­t in the back.

The blonde woman, from Liverpool, was being treated in hospital last night for facial fractures, bruises and cuts after suffering what police described as a “catastroph­ic” ordeal.

A 22-year-old Australian man, believed to be a biker, was remanded in custody after appearing before a court charged with several attacks.

They include four rapes, four attempted strangulat­ions and eight assaults, as well as two counts of deprivatio­n of liberty.

Cry

He also faces drugs charges after officers found ecstasy in the vehicle.

The man, believed to be a biker, is accused of holding the British girl against her will in a hotel in Cairns, North Queensland, before allegedly forcing her to go on a 1,000-mile road trip across the outback.

A garage assistant called Donna said: “She was in a state of shock when she came in – almost zombie like. She said she couldn’t pay for the fuel. Tears were running down her face. But what struck me were her black eyes. She looked bad.

“She was nervous and shaking. I thought her behaviour was because she couldn’t pay for the fuel. She was like a person in a trance.”

A pal of the woman said her petrol station “stunt” in Mitchell was a “brilliant cry for help”.

Police said the girl, who had been backpackin­g around Oz for almost two years, met the man at an electronic dance party on January 27.

She later posted messages on Facebook to relatives in Britain detailing injuries she claimed she had sustained at the hands of the “psycho”.

Her friend said: “She is a nice girl who was very trusting. He was really clingy. He told us he was in a biker gang and had guns and stuff but I think that was all bull **** .”

Det Insp Paul Hart said: “During the course of their travels, a number of very serious offences occurred.”

 ??  ?? ®Ê HORROR FOOTAGE: The Brit woman at the petrol pump, top left, and inside the petrol station. Left, the victim (with face pixellated to protect identity)
®Ê HORROR FOOTAGE: The Brit woman at the petrol pump, top left, and inside the petrol station. Left, the victim (with face pixellated to protect identity)
 ??  ?? SUSPECT: On car bonnet
SUSPECT: On car bonnet
 ??  ?? ®Ê SUSPECT: The alleged attacker on a car bonnet. Right, Det Insp Paul Hart and, below, the petrol station ®Ê HIDEY HOLE: The rear of the 4x4 where the suspect was found hiding
®Ê SUSPECT: The alleged attacker on a car bonnet. Right, Det Insp Paul Hart and, below, the petrol station ®Ê HIDEY HOLE: The rear of the 4x4 where the suspect was found hiding
 ??  ??

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