A woman has allegedly been raped by three knife-wielding teenagers who broke into her Cairns home while she was asleep in bed with her partner.
Queensland Police allege the three male youths broke into the house in Manunda at about 3.30am on Friday and threatened the couple, aged in their 30s, with a knife while demanding their belongings.
Two of the teenagers then allegedly took the female resident to another part of the home and sexually assaulted her while the other held the knife to her partner’s throat.
They fled the scene on foot, but two males aged 15 and 16 were arrested about an hour later. They were known to police and are believed to have been involved in other break-ins around Cairns, where aboriginal crime is rampant.
The third alleged offender, described as being of aboriginal appearance, was arrested late on Friday.
The first two teenagers arrested have been charged with 11 offences each, including five counts of rape, two counts each of armed robbery and deprivation of liberty, Cairns Post reported.
The third, 15, was charged with 13 offences on Saturday, including rape, armed robbery, deprivation of liberty, drug possession and obstructing police.
Detective Inspector Kev Goan said the alleged attack was “one of the most abhorrent acts committed during a break and enter” that he had seen during 38 years as a police officer
“Whilst one male offender has held or detained the male occupant in the house, the two others have escorted the female occupant to an outside area where she has been sexually assaulted,” Goan alleged.
“The victims and the offenders were not known to each other.”
“I can say this is horrific. For a young couple to be in bed, to have their home invaded by three intruders and for the male to be held at knifepoint while his partner is subject to sexual assaults while her assailants are also armed.”
The alleged offenders will apply for bail in a children’s court on February 22, but Goan said it would be “very strongly” opposed by police.
According to crime statistics released in December the Far North police region, which includes Cairns, has overtaken Townsville to become the worst in Queensland for youth crime.
At the time of the release there had been 2,082 breach of bail offences in 2024, 1,017 stolen cars, and 112 robberies committed by minors, and last month staff at Cairns hospitals were warned not to leave work alone after a spate of violent robberies targeting nurses.
Premier David Crisafulli, who was elected in October after running on a tough-on-crime platform, said during a visit to Cairns on Friday that the allegations were “sickening and harrowing”.
“I don’t think crime anywhere in the state is acceptable at the level it is, but in the Far North at the moment, it’s horrendous, and it’s ripping the heart and soul out of a beautiful part of the state,” he said.
Header image: An aerial view of Manunda, Cairns (By 04marjes at English Wikipedia, Public Domain, Link).
