AS MANY as seven more complainants have come forward to make allegations against a man accused of stalking young women on social media before gaining their confidence, organising a meeting and sexually assaulting them, Newcastle Local Court has heard.
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Andrew James Benn, 27, of Rothbury, chose not to appear via audio visual link from jail during a brief mention of his matter on Monday.
Already charged with 28 counts relating to five alleged victims over a three-year period, Mr Benn’s solicitor, John Anthony, told Magistrate Robert Stone that the matter needed to be adjourned until April because a “further seven complainants” had spoken with Central Hunter detectives.
“A partial brief has been served, there are a further seven complainants, with which he is being charged,” Mr Anthony said.
The 27-year-old, who also gave an address at Mardi on the Central Coast, is currently charged with 12 counts of sexual intercourse without consent, nine counts of assault with an act of indecency, three counts of take or detain with intent to obtain advantage, three counts of committing an act of indecency with a person 16 years or over and common assault.
He is accused of sexually and indecently assaulting five women aged between 16 and 20 during a period from November, 2013 to January this year at Hinton, Muswellbrook, Pokolbin, Rutherford and Morpeth, court documents state.
Central Hunter detectives allege Mr Benn trawled through personal Facebook pages of young women, sending friend requests to random females before striking up online conversations.
After striking up a rapport and gaining their confidence, the mine worker organised a face-to-face meeting where he is alleged to have attacked his victims.
Mr Benn was arrested on January 14 and has been in custody, refused bail, since.
He has not entered pleas to any of the charges.
Magistrate Robert Stone made interim orders for apprehended violence orders for the five complainants on Monday.
The matter was adjourned to April 26 and will be prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Central Hunter detectives previously said in a statement that “police encourage any person who has been a victim of sexual assault to report the matter for investigation’’.
The case has also prompted fresh warnings for young women to be extra vigilant in relation to strangers when using all forms of social media.
Information should be forwarded to Central Hunter detectives at Maitland police station on 4934 0200 or through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
