Woman sexually assaulted by stranger while walking on Brisbane street

Assault and initial appeal

A woman in her 20s was sexually assaulted by a stranger while walking in Brisbane's semi-rural suburb of Brookfield on Thursday morning, Queensland police said. The incident occurred about 6:30am on Brookfield Road, as the woman approached the Brookfield Road bridge.

Police said the man, described as wearing black shorts and a black jumper, fled on foot after the assault. In an initial statement, police urged anyone who had been in the area between 5:45am and 6:45am, particularly those with dashcam footage, to contact them. Detectives and specialist police were deployed to the area, and police said the incident was being treated as isolated, with increased patrols to be conducted by local general duties officers.

Arrest and charges

Later that afternoon, police arrested a 32-year-old man from Raceview, near Ipswich. Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters the attack had been random and that the alleged attacker had been on his way to work at the time. He said that after an urgent public appeal for information on Thursday, two people came forward with dashcam footage that was "the final piece of the puzzle."

"Officers identified the vehicle as being similar," Massingham said. "They followed the vehicle, and he was actually intercepted." The man was allegedly driving back past the crime scene after finishing work that day, according to Massingham.

The man has been charged with six counts including rape, stalking, assault with intent to commit rape, assault causing bodily harm, and deprivation of liberty. Police allege the man approached the woman from behind near the Brookfield Road bridge.

Victim care and police response

Police said the woman was provided with medical and psychological care and was at home with her family. Massingham said he wanted to "acknowledge her bravery in coming forward." He added that the alleged victim had suffered injuries as a result of the assault, and that "our thoughts are with her [and] her family."

The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released further details about the accused man or the circumstances of the arrest beyond the charges laid.