Man remanded for teen sex offences
A Drouin man has been charged with rape and abduction offences of two teenage girls in the Dandenong Ranges more than 20 years ago.
Garry Cook, 71, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being charged with 36 offences including six counts each of rape and sexual penetration of a person under 16-years-old. Other charges included procuring sexual penetration of a child under 16, indecent act, stalking, false imprisonment, threats to kills and firearms offences.
Mr Cook was arrested in Abbotsford on Wednesday morning and interviewed by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives as part of their investigation into a series of incidents involving sexual assault, abduction and stalking in the Dandenong Ranges area between 1996 and 2000.
Detectives allege Mr Cook was involved in two incidents which occurred in 1998.
On September 24 1998, Mr Cook allegedly picked up a woman who was hitch-hiking along the Belgrave-Gembrook Rd in Belgrave.
He allegedly took her to a remote area, threatened her with a firearm and sexually assaulted before leaving her in Emerald.
In a second incident on December 1 the same year, police allege Mr Cook offered a lift to a woman hitch-hiking along Wellington Rd in Clematis, threatened with a firearm and was driven to a remote area. It is alleged Mr Cook sexually assaulted the woman before driving her to Belgrave railway station.
Mr Cook was remanded in custody for a further hearing on November 17.
Detectives are looking at any links between these matters and a number of alleged incidents involving sexual assault, abduction and stalking in the Dandenong Ranges area between 1996 and 2000.
The investigation is ongoing.
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who hitch-hiked in the Dandenong Ranges between 1996 and 2000, including those who did so without incident, as they may have valuable information to provide police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au