7 Mar 2017

British backpacker's ordeal 'catastrophic', Australian police say

8:30 pm on 7 March 2017

An Australian man faces multiple charges including rape, assault and strangulation after being found hiding in a 4WD being driven by a woman allegedly held against her will for several weeks.

A British backpacker was pulled over on Queensland's Warrego Highway, with her alleged attacker hiding in a small alcove of the car.

A British backpacker driving a 4WD was pulled over on Queensland's Warrego Highway, pictured, with her alleged attacker hiding in the car. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Police in Queensland said the 22-year-old British backpacker was behind the wheel of the vehicle, which was pulled over on the Warrego Highway at Mitchell, about 570km west of Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon.

They said she was visibly distressed, appeared "terrified" and had injuries to her face.

Staff at a service station in Mitchell told the ABC they contacted police after the woman pumped petrol into a car on Sunday but drove away without paying.

They said the woman appeared to have cuts and bruises on her face.

Police pulled over the 4WD vehicle a short time later.

A 22-year-old man from the Cairns suburb of Manunda was found hiding in a small alcove of the car.

Police said the pair had met three months previously and the alleged offences occurred between 2 January and 5 March at various locations in Queensland.

Detective Inspector Paul Hart said the pair had travelled extensively throughout the state.

"She did meet up with the alleged offender while up north so they had spent some time together, but subsequently that had obviously soured," Mr Hart said.

"During the course of their travels throughout the state then a number of very serious offences have occurred."

He said the man appeared to be "hiding from police".

"When located we will allege that the male person was secreted in the back section of the vehicle, which made it quite difficult to find him," Mr Hart said.

The woman was considering returning home, he said.

"We would certainly say that what's happened to this lady is quite catastrophic so there are numerous supports that are being put in place to help her out through this period."

The man has been charged with four counts of rape, eight counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, four counts of strangulation, two counts of wilful damage, two counts of deprivation of liberty, one count of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of possessing drug utensils and one count of obstructing police.

The woman was treated for non life-threatening injuries including facial fractures, bruising and cuts to her body.

A spokesperson for the British High Commission said: "We are supporting a British woman following an incident in Queensland and remain in contact with the local authorities."

The man appeared in Roma Magistrates Court on Monday where he was remanded in custody to reappear in court at a later date.

- ABC / BBC