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Daylesford Man Charged Over Alleged Assault on Solo Hiker

The charges follow community pressure after police initially said no offence was detected.

Overview

  • Ballarat sexual offences and child abuse team detectives arrested and interviewed a 51-year-old Daylesford man on Wednesday.
  • He was charged with common assault and aggravated assault over an alleged January 27 incident on the Goldfields Track near Daylesford.
  • The man was bailed to appear at Ballarat Magistrates' Court on April 9.
  • The complainant, Sarah Gibbs, reported that a man followed, grabbed and menaced her while she was hiking solo and showed police footage of the encounter.
  • An earlier Victoria Police statement found no offence, which drew public concern about women's safety and prompted the renewed investigation.