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Police have attributed the “extreme courage” of three women who were sexually assaulted in their Christchurch homes, at least one of whom fought the assailant.
A 45-year-old man with temporary name suppression is in custody after he allegedly broke into five houses in an hour. Five women were attacked, three of whom he allegedly tried to rape. One of the attacks involved suffocation.
Police allege the man illegally entered the properties, which are located on three Upper Riccarton streets near the Bush Inn Mall and the University of Canterbury, between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Thursday.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
Police on a street in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, after a man allegedly attacked several women in their homes.
He has been charged with three counts of assault with intent to commit rape, five counts of robbery, and one count of strangulation or suffocation.
Wearing a sewn gown and with a police officer behind him on the Christchurch District Court dock, the suspect did not plead guilty to any of the charges, but told Judge Hix that he was “sorry for what happened.”
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Detective Sergeant Major Colin Baillie said the five women on the properties displayed “extreme courage.”
“Despite these traumatic events, thanks to the actions of these women, we were able to mobilize our personnel to the area quickly and locate the suspect,” he said.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
Officers are speaking with residents of an Upper Riccarton street Thursday morning.
There was a large police presence as officers examined various Upper Riccarton properties, many of which were student houses.
Detectives and front-line officers went door-to-door and searched the garbage containers. Several properties were under police surveillance.
Police were understood to have raided the suspect’s home on Thursday morning.
Baillie thanked members of the public who helped with the information. Police were supporting the victims, he said.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
A man was arrested after five houses were raided Thursday morning.
A student, who lives near one of the guarded houses, said he returned home Thursday morning to find a heavy police presence on the street.
The police had spoken to him and told him that there had been “multiple robberies and the [suspect]”Said the student.
The 45-year-old appeared in Christchurch District Court before Judge Quentin Hix on Thursday afternoon and will appear on November 16.
Anyone with information should contact Operation Linen’s investigation team by calling 105 and quoting file number 201029/8070.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
Police are asking anyone with information to call the police and refer to Operation Linen.
