Two teenagers have been charged after an 18-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Sydney's south-west, police say.
A group of three females and two teenage males were in a vehicle near Vine Street, Fairfield, shortly before 11pm on October 26. According to NSW Police, one of the males pulled out a handgun. Two of the females escaped, but the third was allegedly driven to another location and sexually assaulted. The woman was allegedly raped at gunpoint by two teenage males.
Members of the public found the woman in a park and took her to Fairfield Police Station. Police formed Strikeforce Farabee and the following day raided a home at Edensor Park, seizing a gel-blaster shaped like a Glock pistol.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and initially charged with possess unauthorised firearm and three counts of intimidation. He was refused bail by police but granted bail by a children's court magistrate. An 18-year-old man was arrested at a home in Fairfield Heights and charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm and possess unauthorised firearm. He was also granted bail by a magistrate.
The pair were re-arrested on Friday and charged again. The boy's new charges are aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon, and four counts of aggravated sex assault in company. The man was charged with four counts of aggravated sex assault in company, domestic violence choking, and aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon. Both were refused bail.
The man was to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Friday. The boy will return to court next week.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The alleged crime involves a weapon and gang sexual assault, raising concerns about public safety in the area.
- The case highlights the use of gel-blaster pistols as potential weapons in serious crimes.
- The bail process and subsequent re-arrest and upgraded charges may spark debate about bail decisions for violent offences.
Background
The incident occurred on the night of October 26 in Fairfield. Police quickly formed a strike force and made arrests the following day. The initial charges were for weapon possession and intimidation, but after further investigation, the suspects were re-arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault. A gel-blaster shaped like a Glock pistol was seized. Both suspects were initially granted bail by a magistrate before being re-arrested and refused bail.
What to Watch
- The outcomes of the court appearances for both suspects, including any future bail hearings.
- Whether additional victims or charges emerge from the investigation.
- Potential legal and community responses regarding the use of imitation firearms in violent crimes.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTeenagers were charged after an alleged gunpoint rape in Sydney’s south-west.The Age - Latest News: “Teenagers charged after alleged gunpoint rape of Sydney woman.”
- SupportedTwo males face aggravated sexual assault charges.The Age - Latest News: “The boy was charged with aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon, and four counts of aggravated sex assault in company”
- SupportedAn 18-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Sydney’s south-west, police say.The Age - Latest News: “Two teenagers have been charged after an 18-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Sydney’s south-west.”
- SupportedThree females and two teenage males were in a vehicle near Vine Street, Fairfield, shortly before 11pm on October 26.The Age - Latest News: “A group of three females and two teenage males were in a vehicle near Vine Street, Fairfield, just before 11pm on October 26”
- SupportedOne male pulled out a handgun.The Age - Latest News: “when one of the males pulled out a handgun.”
- SupportedTwo females escaped, while the third was allegedly driven elsewhere and sexually assaulted.The Age - Latest News: “Two of the females escaped the car, but the third was allegedly driven to another location and sexually assaulted, NSW Police said in a statement.”
- SupportedThe woman was allegedly raped at gunpoint by two teenage males.The Age - Latest News: “A woman was found in a park after allegedly being driven in a car from Vine Street, Fairfield, and raped at gunpoint by two teenage males.”
- SupportedMembers of the public found the woman in a park and took her to Fairfield Police Station.The Age - Latest News: “Members of the public found the woman in the park and took her to Fairfield Police Station.”
- SupportedPolice formed Strikeforce Farabee and the following day raided a home at Edensor Park, seizing a gel-blaster shaped like a Glock pistol.The Age - Latest News: “Fairfield police and the Sex Crimes squad formed Strikeforce Farabee and, the following day, raided a home at Edensor Park and seized a gel-blaster shaped like a Glock pistol.”
- SupportedA 17-year-old boy was arrested and initially charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm and three counts of intimidation.The Age - Latest News: “A 17-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Cabramatta Police Station where he was charged with possess unauthorised firearm, and three counts of intimidation.”
- SupportedThe 17-year-old was re-arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon, and four counts of aggravated sexual assault in company.The Age - Latest News: “The pair were re-arrested on Friday and charged again. The boy was charged with aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon, and four counts of aggravated sex assault in company”
- SupportedThe 18-year-old man was charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, domestic violence choking, and aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon.The Age - Latest News: “The man was charged with four counts of aggravated sex assault in company, domestic violence choking, and aggravated sexual assault in company while threatening actual bodily harm by weapon.”