By Jolene Ogle
Detectives are still searching for an alleged rapist one month after an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while walking home from a party.
According to a statement from police, the woman was walking home on Sunday 8 January about 2am when she was approached from behind by a man. The woman was allegedly raped and threatened before a passer-by disturbed the offender who ran away.
The man, described as European with possibly a French accent, is believed to have followed the woman for some distance before the incident took place on a pathway that connects David Low Way and Bicentennial Way in Sunrise Beach.
Police have confirmed security cameras in a walkway could have filmed the offender, but said the footage was of such a poor quality they were unable to identify the people in the footage.
Through a Federal Government grant, council installed eight cameras and better lighting at the underpass and bike racks near the Noosa Junction transit station, as well as the eastern side of the underpass.
A council spokesperson said they had not received any advice from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to suggest a fault with the cameras.
The spokesperson said council staff would follow-up with police to ensure the cameras were working effectively and take appropriate action, if required.
“The cameras were installed less than a year ago, and they are still under warranty. Council has arrangements in place to allow QPS direct access to the footage,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said council commissioned an independent consultant to conduct a security risk assessment – including a lighting audit – of the area, and make recommendations including advice on the camera locations.
“Council also had an independent expert consultant develop the CCTV specifications for the tender to ensure the cameras installed were of a high standard,” the spokesperson said.
The offender is described as 180cm tall with a European accent, possibly French. He was wearing long dark pants and a red T-shirt. Noosa Detectives would like to speak with anyone that was in the area around the time of the assault who may have witnessed or heard any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information which could assist with this inquiry should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24 hours a day.
