close
close
hsuses

Ten-year-old boy charged with sexually assaulting Italian tourist in Australia

Theo

Australian police have charged a 10-year-old boy over the alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old Italian tourist in Queensland.

The boy was among a group of youths who reportedly attacked the tourist in the Cairns CBD on Wednesday morning.

“It sounds like a very disturbing story,” Queensland Premier Steven Miles said on Thursday.

“As far as I know, the police acted quickly and arrested the alleged perpetrator.”

The woman was walking down a street when the boy allegedly attacked her along with three fellow teenagers, police said.

She filed a police report about the attack at the corner of Lake and Shields streets after 10 a.m.

“Undoubtedly a traumatic experience for the young lady,” Detective Inspector Kevin Goan told reporters. The woman reportedly suffered bruises and scratches to her head and face as a result of the alleged sexual assault.

When the woman spoke to police on the phone, Mr. Goan said, the youths threw objects and hit her repeatedly.

“She sustained minor injuries, but it would still have been a frightening situation for her.”

“The young age of the perpetrators is disgusting. People have the right to conduct their business in our community,” Mr Goan said.

The accused youth, including the 10-year-old from Manoora, have been arrested and investigation is ongoing, police said.

The 10-year-old was later released to his apartment. 9News reported.

He was accused of sexual assault, common assault and assault in society.

“We know who they are and we know where they are. So what matters is that we are able to deal with them in a manner that is permissible under the Juvenile Justice Act,” Mr Goan said.

Regarding the boy’s age, he added: “It’s not very common at all. I cannot imagine any other case in which a young boy would have committed such an offense.”

Related Posts