In March 2004, the NSW Police Force established Strike Force McCoy to investigate 13 separate sexual assaults between Saturday, August, 23, 2003 and Tuesday, November 2, 2004, across the Sydney Metropolitan area.
The incidents were linked at the time by location and modus operandi, with four linked by a common DNA profile located at the crime scenes.
Despite exhaustive investigations at the time, including assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the exploration of more than 3,000 persons of interest, no one was charged over the incidents.
In February 2020, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced a comprehensive investigative and forensic review.
Earlier this year, criminalistics experts from NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic and Analytical Science Service (FASS) advised they had established a familial DNA link in the case.
Further inquiries were conducted with assistance from the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command’s DNA Management Unit, which identified a DNA match.
Following further investigations by Strike Force McCoy detectives, a 51-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning.
The man was charged with five counts of sexual intercourse without consent, two counts of aggravated enter dwelling with intent – knowing people there, two counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of take or detain person with intent to obtain advantage, incite person 16 years or over to commit act of indecency, inflict actual bodily harm to have sexual intercourse with victim, and, attempt choke or strangle etc with intent to commit indictable offence.
Police will allege in court the man is responsible for four separate serious aggravated break and enter and sexual assaults in 2003 and 2004 in Croydon, Bondi, Bexley and Marrickville.
