Police release image to find man they believe raped a girl in Toowoomba
Police have released a computer-generated image of a man they believe raped a teenage girl in Toowoomba in 2005, in the hope someone will identify him to police.
Computer-generated image of a man police believe to be responsible for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Toowoomba in 2015.
Photo: Queensland Police Service.Peta Butler, who police said gave them permission to release her name publicly, was 15-years-old when she hopped on a bus with her mum to go for a “girl’s night away” in Toowoomba for her birthday, Detective Senior Constable Jodi Bell said.
“They then went to a hotel room where there was a man waiting,” she said.
Ms Butler went to Wynnum Police Station in 2016 to make a complaint about the incident, which happened between May and December 2005.
Police said given Ms Butler’s age and the trauma she suffered, she could not recall the exact date or where the incident happened.
Police said her mother had since been convicted of arranging for a man to rape her daughter.
The mother was arrested in October 2016 and pleaded guilty to procuring a youth for carnal knowledge in the Ipswich District Court.
Police said the woman was now serving a jail sentence.
The man is described as being in his mid-to-late 40s at the time, extremely obese with a shaved head and blue eyes.
“She (Ms Butler) remembers distinctive bulging blue eyes with dark circles underneath them,” Senior Constable Bell said.
“We only know this male person by the name of 'Thommo'.”
Senior Constable Bell told A Current Affair on Monday night she believed the man may have hurt other girls and women.
"People like 'Thommo' don't just do these things once," Senior Constable Bell said.
"To say to that person if you don't bring your daughter here for me to rape then I am going to break up with you, he doesn't do that just once.
"I believe that there is probably other victims out there."
It is believed the man was wearing an expensive suit, drove a car with cream coloured leather seats and used an email address similar to thommo_thommo_thommo@hotmail.com.
Police urged anyone who might recognise him, have knowledge of his movements or know anything that might help identify him to contact police.
“Obviously any information the public may have, even if you think it is minor to you, it may be an important part of the puzzle to us,” Senior Constable Bell said.
“If you think that this man is someone who has assaulted you please go to a police station...we will listen and we will explain the procedure and the options you have available if you want to proceed with telling us what happened. Don’t be scared, we will help you.”
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or provide information using the online form 24 hours per day.
Amy Mitchell-Whittington is a reporter at the Brisbane Times, with a special interest in science and education
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