ACT man to face court over Westfield sexual assault

A man is due to appear in ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday after a woman reported a sexual assault to police.

Police allege a 28-year-old man from Phillip, who was employed at a retail store in Westfield, had sex without consent with the woman.

At around 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, a man closed the store’s security shutters and allegedly began taking pictures of the woman in the store when she was not in public view.

He is then accused of tricking the woman into entering a small office at the back of the store, where the sex without consent took place.

After the incident, the woman went to the hospital for a forensic examination, before referring the case to the police.

On November 25, 2022, police executed a search warrant at the store where the alleged assault occurred and arrested the man.

He was later charged with one count of having sex without consent.

ACT Police urge all victims of sex crimes to report the criminal offences.

Anyone who is a victim of sexual violence can report it to the police by going to a police station or by calling 131 444.

ACT victims can speak to the Canberra Rape Crisis Center on 02 6287 3618.

People can also submit a historical sexual assault report online for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.