Man set to face court over alleged sexual assaults of woman and girl
A man missing from a medical facility has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman and a young girl on consecutive days in St Kilda last week.
Police arrested Benjamin Shoppee, 41, in Kew on Wednesday morning. He had left a facility on Victoria Parade, Fitzroy on April 30.
On Thursday last week he allegedly approached an 11-year-old girl in St Kilda and engaged her in conversation before using inappropriate language and sexually assaulting her.
The following day, police say he approached a 33-year-old woman and allegedly masturbated in front of her before grabbing her, then fleeing.
Mr Shoppee, of no fixed address, has been charged with sexual assault, encouraging a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, directing sexual activity at another person and three counts of committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.
He will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Mr Shoppee, who police described as "transient", is under an order to return to the Fitzroy facility.
Police were deployed across St Kilda and the CBD, which he frequents, to find him.
He was seen back at the Fitzroy facility on Monday wearing a black top and red baseball cap, but police were not able to pick him up in time.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Quirk said the incidents were troubling, adding that Mr Shoppee did not have any prior convictions for similar offending.
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