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THE PUBLIC played a significant role in the arrest of a man accused of raping a woman at Belongil Beach near Byron Bay earlier this month.
Zane Rowe, 31, is accused of aggravated sexual assault (deprive liberty) and remains in custody today to appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court tomorrow for a mention.
Tweed/Byron police and detectives from the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Kabbera to investigate reports of the attack at Belongil Beach, just north of Byron Bay which happened early last week.
The 31-year-old woman told police she was at the beach around 5pm, when she was approached by a man and sexually assaulted.
After she escaped, she ran to a hotel on Childe St, Byron Bay where staff helped her and called police. She was taken to Byron Bay Hospital for treatment.
Belongil Beach has long had a reputation as a haunt for sexual predators, prompting public meetings about the issue.
Police from Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command arrested Rowe at a home in Coffs Harbour around 1.30pm Saturday June 17 following extensive investigations.
He was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station and charged at 9.30 am with six counts of aggravated sexual assault (deprive liberty), three counts of commit act of indecency, and one count of reckless damage to property valued at under $2000.