The 36-year-old Bruce man has been handed almost 70 charges, with a court hearing they relate to alleged offending between 2023 and November 2025. Photo: ACT Policing.
CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to allegations of sexual and family violence.
A man accused of showing a “persistent and flagrant disregard” for the safety of three women during multiple alleged assaults has been refused bail.
A 36-year-old Bruce man has been charged with almost 70 violent and sexual offence counts. Region has chosen not to name the man, to avoid identifying the alleged victims.
On Friday (5 June), an ACT Policing spokesperson said that in late 2025 and early 2026, multiple women contacted police to report alleged sexual assault incidents.
The women alleged their then-partner committed multiple violent assaults against them, both sexual and physical, and strangulation.
On Thursday (4 June), Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team officers went to a Bruce residence and executed a search warrant.
The 36-year-old resident was then taken into custody and charged with 69 offences, including multiple counts of sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated choke and render a person insensible, and aggravated common assault.
The man faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday to apply for bail, which was opposed by a prosecutor.
The prosecutor said some of the alleged offending occurred where one of the women worked, and that the Crown had seen photographs appearing to show scratches and bruising on one of the alleged victims.
“There is a pattern of behaviour of a complete disregard for the safety of the complainants,” she said of the allegations made to police.
The man’s duty defence lawyer said bail conditions (such as the man living with a family member and being unable to go where the alleged victims lived and worked) would ameliorate the prosecutor’s concerns around further alleged offending and interference with witnesses.
“He ought to be given the opportunity to demonstrate, on bail, that he can comply with those conditions,” she said.
She said there could be a years-long delay until the matter was resolved, her client’s limited criminal history was unrelated and he had family support in the ACT.
The allegations were “dated”, with the most recent one related to November 2025, she said.
“While they are serious and repeated allegations … [from] his criminal history and what was raised in the bail consideration form, there is nothing to enliven a real and genuine likelihood of him reoffending or interfering with evidence or witnesses,” the defence lawyer said.
Magistrate Alexandra Burt, who ultimately refused bail, described the charges as concerning.
“[These] are serious allegations, a number of allegations, made by three complaints … [They represent] a callous disregard for the wishes and safety of those three complaints and also an abuse of power.”
She also described the man’s alleged offending as a “persistent and flagrant disregard” for the physical safety of multiple women.
The man will next face court on 6 July. No pleas were entered.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on (02) 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on (02) 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, or someone you know has, you can report it to law enforcement by attending a police station or phoning 131 444. If your report relates to these allegations, please quote 8231998.