Rape Allegation At Packed Stadium

Illawarra Mercury

Monday July 30, 2007

By SARAH ALLELY

POLICE are investigating an allegation that a woman was raped in the men's toilets at WIN Stadium as more than 19,000 Dragons and Bulldogs streamed from the ground on Saturday night.

Wollongong Police Inspector Steven Egbers said an 18-year-old had alleged she was sexually assaulted at 9.30pm just minutes after the game ended.

Insp Egbers said the woman had gone into the men's toilets near the ticket box to avoid long queues at the women's toilets.

She later alleged that a friend of her brother's had assaulted her in a cubicle.

She was medically examined at Wollongong Hospital.

Insp Egbers said police had not had the chance to interview the woman, as she was too distressed yesterday.

He said the man she accused was arrested and questioned, but released without charge pending further investigations.

Detectives had worked through the night on Saturday interviewing witnesses identified by a security guard and the accused.

The man she accused had said she had consented to the sexual incident.

A spokesman for the Wollongong Sportsground Trust, which is in charge of WIN Stadium, said he was aware of an incident, but did not have details from the detectives.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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