Rape filmed on cell phone

April 5, 2007

Adapted from the Daily Telegraph

A teenage girl was allegedly filmed on a mobile phone being gang raped and the footage sent via Bluetooth to students at her former Catholic high school.

Five teenagers were arrested yesterday in raids, with two facing court charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.

Police allege the girl, 17, had no memory of the alleged attack – only becoming aware of it when she was shown the footage by one of her attackers four days later.

The horrific details of the alleged attack were revealed in children's court during bail applications by two of the alleged attackers, both aged 17.

One of the teenagers who faced court wasaccused of recording the alleged attack on his mobile phone and later sending it via Bluetooth to friends – including students at the victim's former Catholic high school.

The court heard the girl had no recollection of the alleged gang rape or being dumped on the front door of her house minus her underwear. She was found the next morning by her mother.

The court heard the teenager had earlier agreed to meet with one of the accused – who was a friend of hers – and was taken to a house.

While at the house, a group of seven males and the teenager allegedly "played card games and consumed alcohol.”

The girl told police she drank four drinks in "quick succession before becoming very drunk.”

"At some time during the night, the complainant was taken to a bedroom where she was placed on the bed.

One of the young persons pushed up the complainant's denim skirt and removed her underpants," a statement of alleged facts tendered to the court said.

One of the accused, a 17-year-old, allegedly began having sex with the semi-conscious teenager.

During the alleged assault, a second teenager "got his mobile phone and began to record this using the phone's video recorder,” according to the statement.

While the first teenager was allegedly raping the victim, a second "climbed on to the complainant's face" before allegedly forcing her to perform a sex act.

"The victim could be seen on the video recording trying to push (the accused teenagers) away and trying to get up from the bed," the statement said.

Police allege up to five other males were watching the alleged assault and could be heard on the footage encouraging each other and laughing.

One of the accused allegedly broke wind on the girl's face before saying: "Get that into ya.” He is then seen on the footage “high fiving” another co-accused before slapping the victim.

Four days after the alleged rape, the offender accused of recording the attack called the victim and invited her out again.

She was allegedly taken to a house and shown the recording.

The court heard the police were notified after teachers at the victim's former Catholic high school became aware of the footage.

Three other teenagers are expected to face court. The teenagers face up to 20 years jail if convicted.