Two women allegedly attacked in separate Sydney home invasions – with one held at knifepoint and sexually assaulted
Three men have been charged after two women were allegedly attacked in separate home invasions in Sydney’s south-west, including one woman who police say was threatened with a knife and sexually assaulted.
The first alleged attack happened about midnight on Tuesday at a home on Marinea Street in Arncliffe.
Police allege a group of men forced their way inside before threatening a 31-year-old woman with a knife, sexually assaulting her and stealing money.
She was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
About 12.30am on Thursday, police were called to a unit on Jacobs Street in Bankstown following reports of another home invasion.
Police allege three men forced their way inside before assaulting a 32-year-old woman and stealing money.
She was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Officers from Bankstown Police Area Command and St George Police Area Command began investigating the incidents before detectives from State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad combined the inquiries under Strike Force Forela.
Three men have been charged after two women were allegedly attacked in separate home invasions in Sydney’s south-west (stock image)
Following extensive inquiries, detectives, assisted by specialist and local police, executed three search warrants in Belmore, Punchbowl and Greenacre about 7.45pm on Thursday.
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Belmore and taken to Burwood Police Station.
He was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – deprive liberty, aggravated robbery and deprive person of liberty, two counts of choke person with intent to commit indictable offence, common assault and use offensive weapon in company with intent indictable offence.
A 19-year-old man was arrested in Punchbowl and taken to Campsie Police Station.
He was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – deprive liberty, two counts of choke person with intent to commit indictable offence, two counts of aggravated sexual assault – deprive liberty, aggravated robbery and deprive person of liberty, common assault, use offensive weapon in company with intent indictable offence and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
An 18-year-old man was arrested in Greenacre and taken to Bankstown Police Station.
He was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – deprive liberty, aggravated robbery and deprive person of liberty, two counts of choke person with intent to commit indictable offence, common assault and use offensive weapon in company with intent indictable offence.
All three men were refused bail.
The 20-year-old was due to appear at Burwood Local Court on Friday, while the 19-year-old and 18-year-old were due to appear at Bankstown Local Court.
The charges remain before the courts.
