A 25-year-old man from Halls Creek has been charged with sexual penetration without consent and aggravated burglary following an alleged assault on a woman in her home while she slept more than two years ago.
Alleged incident in Halls Creek
The accused is alleged to have assaulted the woman inside her home on Kinivan Street in Halls Creek, located in Western Australia's east Kimberley region, at around 1am on February 21, 2024. Police say the man entered the property without permission and sexually assaulted the victim while she was asleep.
After evading authorities for more than two years, the man was finally arrested and charged on March 26, 2026. Police have thanked members of the public for providing crucial information that helped progress the investigation.
Additional theft charges
In addition to the sexual offence, the man is accused of stealing assorted items from locations on Kinivan Street and Roberta Avenue in Halls Creek on the same day as the alleged sexual assault. He now faces three counts of stealing, one count of aggravated home burglary and commit an offence, one count of burglary and commit an offence in a place, and one count of sexual penetration without consent.
Police commend public assistance
Detective Acting Superintendent Dave Palmer, from the Sex Crime Division, highlighted the importance of the public's assistance in the case. "I want to thank members of the public who came forward with information following our public awareness campaign," Mr Palmer said. "That information has been invaluable and assisted investigators as we progressed this matter."
Mr Palmer also reaffirmed the commitment of Western Australia Police to investigating unsolved historical sexual assaults. "WA Police remain committed to investigating unsolved historical sexual assaults. We continue to pursue all lines of enquiry to hold offenders to account and seek outcomes for victim-survivors," he said.
The man is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The investigation remains ongoing, and police encourage anyone with further information to come forward.
