13-year-old charged over alleged sexual offences on Sydney's northern beaches trails
A 13-year-old boy who rode an ebike has been charged over alleged sexual offences against girls and women on walking trails on Sydney's northern beaches.
New South Wales Police arrested the boy on Saturday evening after he attended Mona Vale police station at about 7.30pm following a public appeal. He was taken to Manly police station. Police released closed-circuit television images on Saturday of a male they said could assist with inquiries. The Guardian
He faces eight counts of sexually touching another person without consent and three counts of behaving in an offensive manner in or near a public place. Police allege 11 incidents against girls and women aged between 13 and 54. He was granted conditional bail to appear at a children's court on 4 November.
The investigation began after three alleged incidents on 7 and 8 October in the Narrabeen area. Police allege that in each incident a male approached women on walking trails, sexually touched them and rode away on an ebike. In one incident, police allege, the male made inappropriate sexual comments.
Police allege that at about 4.30pm on 1 October at Narrabeen lagoon a suspect sexually touched a woman before riding away on an ebike. Police said they received a report that between 5pm and 5.30pm last Monday two women walking along Narrabeen lagoon near Bilarong reserve were sexually touched by a male riding an ebike.
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command set up Strike Force Mexvo, a temporary investigative team, to examine reports of alleged inappropriate comments and sexual touching on walking trails in the first weeks of October. The team worked with assistance from State Crime Command's sex crimes squad. NSW Police
