Serious Sexual Assault in Australia

A woman was held against her will in her Modbury home and violently sexually assaulted last week:

This man is suspected of entering a Modbury woman’s home before physically and sexually assaulting her. Picture: SA Police.

A “MAN” wanted for entering the home of a Modbury woman before sexually assaulting her has been captured by security cameras at her front door.

The man entered the woman’s home on Monday about 3.40pm, held her against her will and physically and sexually assaulted her.

The woman, 30, did not require medical treatment.

The woman has a CCTV camera at her front door and clear images of the man show he is of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance with a heavy build, a large hooked nose, long black hair tied back in a ponytail and a long bushy beard.

He was wearing a dark coloured jacket with a light coloured symbol on the right side, similar to the Peugeot lion logo.

He could drive a small black car.

Anyone with information about the crime should phone BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

After this story was published, a man handed himself in, was released, and then re-arrested.

In court, he was described by his defence as a 'priest':

UPDATE: A MAN who surrendered to police after CCTV footage of a sex attack suspect was released was initially sent home before police arrested and charged him.

On Wednesday, police released footage of a man wanted for questioning over a sex attack in Modbury on Monday.

In Elizabeth Magistrates Court , lawyer Craig Ellis said his client was alerted by family members to footage of a man matching his appearance, shown in media reports on Monday night.

His client is a priest from Adelaide's northern suburbs, who cannot be identified.

"When he heard about this from the family members he then went to the Port Adelaide police station to make inquiries," Mr Ellis said. Police said he was not the man they were seeking and sent him home, where he was later arrested, the court was told.

Mr Ellis told the court his client had not yet given him full instructions.

"It may be his instructions are that he was present at the premises but nothing happened, or it may be he wasn't present . . . at all," he said.

The man was charged with serious criminal trespass, assault, compelling a person to sexually manipulate him and indecent assault.

Police said they would not comment on why the man was sent home after presenting at the police station.

In court, magistrate Jack Fahey granted the man bail, to reappear in August.

Hat tip: Winds of Jihad.