Wolf Creek star John Jarratt fronts court over rape charge from 1976

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Australian actor John Jarratt made his first court appearance on a rape charge
He is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney in September 1976
The alleged victim of Jarratt, now 66, came forward in December 2017

Published: 23:55 EDT, 29 October 2018 | Updated: 00:31 EDT, 30 October 2018

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Australian actor and director John Jarratt has appeared in court for the first time on a rape charge as his lawyer reiterated he will be defending the charge.

The Wolf Creek star, who fronted Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Randwick, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in September 1976.

The woman, who cannot be named, was 18 years old when police allege Jarratt, then 24, entered her room while she slept and sexually assaulted her.

Police allege the pair knew each other and lived together in a sharehouse at the time.

'Nothing less than a not guilty verdict will satisfy him,' lawyer Bryan Wrench told the court.

Australian actor and director John Jarratt (pictured) has appeared in court for the first time on a rape charge. The 66-year-old, who is best known for his role in Wolf Creek

'No discount could change his plea.'

Jarratt would be eligible for a 25 per cent sentence discount were he to plead guilty in the Local Court and a small discount for a guilty plea in the District Court before trial.

Mr Wrench acknowledged the court had to formally advise his client of sentencing discounts for early guilty pleas.

The alleged victim of Jarratt, now 66, came forward in December 2017. The actor was charged with one count of rape in August.

At a hearing earlier in October, Mr Wrench told the court he wanted to take the 'express lane' to trial and that delays were affecting his client.

The director, actor and producer is best known for a lead role in the movie Wolf Creek and its sequel and appearances on TV shows McLeod's Daughters and Play School.

Jarratt is now due to be available for a confidential case conference on November 26.

He is then expected to formally enter a plea when his case returns to the Downing Centre Local Court for a committal hearing on November 29.

The alleged victim of Jarratt, now 66, came forward in December 2017. The actor was charged with one count of rape in August

Jarratt would be eligible for a 25 per cent sentence discount were he to plead guilty in the Local Court and a small discount for a guilty plea in the District Court before trial

WHO IS JOHN JARRATT

Jarratt was born in Wongawilli, near Wollongong, New South Wales in 1951.

He graduated from National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1973 and his school teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in acting.

Jarratt's screen debut was The Great Macarthy in 1975. The same year he appeared in Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Jarratt has been married four times and has six children. He is currently married to Rosa Miano who was his first wife.

Jarratt was well-known for hosting Better Homes and Gardens in the mid-late 1990s with his (second) wife and actor, Noni Hazlehurst. Jarratt left the show after the couple got divorced and she continued to stay as a host until 2004.

He is well-known for playing the antagonist in the 2005 horror film Wolf Creek. Jarratt plays serial killer Mick Taylor which was inspired by notorious murderers Ivan Milat and Bradley Murdoch.

Jarratt also starred in the film's sequel, Wolf Creek 2, which was released in 2014.

SOURCE: IMDB