- Published:
- Friday 1 May 2026 at 9:00 am
Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad have charged a man overnight as part of their investigation into the abduction and rape of a young mother in Belgrave Heights in 1985.
A 65-year-old Bendigo man was taken into custody yesterday.
He has since been charged with abduction, common law assault, attempted aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, aggravated rape, common law assault, theft and theft of motor vehicle.
He will appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court today.
His arrest follows an incident which occurred over 40 years ago on Monday, 24 June 1985.
A woman in her 30s was returning from a university lecture when she stopped at a milk bar on Colby Drive around 7.30pm.
She was allegedly sexually assaulted after a man entered her vehicle outside the milk bar.
Police believe there a number of people from the initial scene at the milk bar on Colby Road that they have never identified, including people inside the store at the time.
Detectives have released a photo of what that milk bar looked like at the time and are urging anyone who was there on the day to come forward and speak to police.
There was also an appeal for information by police at the time of the incident which referred to a similar sexual assault in the area in the weeks prior. The incident had not yet been reported to police.
Investigators from the Sexual Crimes Squad have never been able to locate an incident which matches the description and would urge anyone who has any further information to come forward.
Detectives also acknowledge that it is possible there are people who were assaulted in similar circumstances and have not yet reported it to police.
They are keen to speak to those people and encourage them to come forward.
Anyone with further information or anything that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Media Unit
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