Face-tattooed predator, 23, admits to raping a British backpacker, 22, after kidnapping her and holding her hostage for months during a 1,500km nightmare trip through the Outback

  • A man has pleaded guilty to the rape and kidnap of a young British backpacker
  • Marcus Martin sexually assaulted a female tourist for two months in 2017
  • The victim was rescued by police after she was pulled over in a routine stop 

By Alex Chapman For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 21:59 EDT, 18 October 2018 | Updated: 22:09 EDT, 18 October 2018

A face-tattooed Australian man has admitted to kidnapping and raping a British backpacker during a nightmare 1,500km road trip through the Outback.

Marcus Allyn Keith Martin, 23, appeared before the Cairns District Court via video link on Friday, pleading guilty to raping and kidnapping a 22-year-old female tourist.

The offences took place over a two-month period in 2017, with police only rescuing the distraught victim after she drove off from a petrol station without paying in south-west Queensland last March.

Martin pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty and will be sentenced in February next year.

23-year-old Marcus Allyn Keith Mitchell has pleaded guilty to raping and kidnapping a tourist

23-year-old Marcus Allyn Keith Mitchell has pleaded guilty to raping and kidnapping a tourist

The man was travelling with a 22-year-old female British backpacker in early-2017

The man was travelling with a 22-year-old female British backpacker in early-2017

The horrifying outback ordeal when the two were travelling together in Queensland's outback last year.

The pair met in Cairns on Australia Day in 2017, driving for nearly 1,500km.

Her disappearance made international headlines, before in culminated in the regional town of Mitchell.

She had been driving a white Mitsubishi Pajero through Mitchell when she stopped at a petrol station to fill up.

The service station attendant remember her being in a 'state of shock when she came in, almost zombie like'.

The assaults were brought to the attention of police after the victim (pictured) drove from a petrol station without paying

The assaults were brought to the attention of police after the victim (pictured) drove from a petrol station without paying

The pair drove together for nearly 1,500km before the victim was pulled over by police with Martin hiding in the back of the car

The pair drove together for nearly 1,500km before the victim was pulled over by police with Martin hiding in the back of the car

The attendant said she had tears streaming down her face and was unable to pay for the fuel.

She drove off without paying, the attendant immediately calling police.

The dramatic rescue took place only hours later when police pulled over the four-wheel drive, finding the distraught and badly beaten woman at the wheel.

An inspection of the car revealed her captor, Martin, stowed away in the back.

Martin and the victim had been travelling together for two months in a Mitsubishi Pajero

Martin and the victim had been travelling together for two months in a Mitsubishi Pajero

He was arrested and charged with rape, assault, strangulation and kidnap offences

He was arrested and charged with rape, assault, strangulation and kidnap offences

He was arrested and charged with four counts of rape, eight counts of assault, four counts of strangulation and two of deprivation of liberty and declined bail.

He has been in custody since his arrest last March.

He earlier pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs, wilful damage, assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.

Prosecutors discontinued ten of the charges following Martin's guilty plea on Friday.

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Man admits to raping and kidnapping a British backpacker during a nightmare trip in Queensland

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