Man charged over series of sexual assaults in Sydney's north-west
A man has been charged over an alleged spree of sexual assaults that spanned more than two decades and involved 14 female victims, some as young as 14.
The 51-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, following an extensive investigation by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Investigators also executed three search warrants at properties in Epping and Berrilee, and seized items including handcuffs.
The detectives, as part of Strike Force Petit, were re-investigating historic sexual assaults that occurred between 1989 and 2013 in the Ryde and Hornsby areas, involving female victims aged between 14 and 40.
Strike Force Petit's investigation included a review of all material collected at the time of the attacks, such as location, descriptions provided by the women at the time and some forensic examinations.
Investigators had previously linked four of the sexual assaults, which all shared similar modus operandi, and other characteristics such as time, state and location.
However, they were also later linked by DNA evidence, which confirmed the same perpetrator was behind all four attacks.
The commander of the squad, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, said the case had been cracked open thanks partially to forensic evidence but also to the "extensive analysis of all the evidence we had at the time, by the victims".
"We've had analysts scour over this ... it's like a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the end picture looked like," Superintendent Kerlatec said.
Following his arrest, the 51-year-old man was taken to Ryde police station and charged with almost 20 offences, including four counts of aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, five counts of committing an act of indecency with a person 16 years or over, three counts of sexual assault with a victim aged under 16, two counts of aggravated sexual assault with a victim aged under 16, and possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Police will allege in court the man committed the sexual-based offences on 14 occasions between 1989 and 2013, involving 14 female victims aged between 14 and 40.
Refused bail, the man will appear in Burwood Local Court on Friday.
Superintendent Kerlatec said the victims, who were contacted after the man's arrest, had mixed feelings.
"Some were grateful of the progress, and sadly some were very emotional," he said.