A 34-year-old man has been charged with raping a child under the age of 10 at a home in Darwin’s northern suburbs last month.
In a statement, Northern Territory police said they received a report of a suspected sexual assault against a “young child” at a Ludmilla home on June 14.
Police said after further investigation, officers were “able to confirm a sexual assault had occurred,” and arrested a man the next day.
Sexual assault support lines:
“On 15 July 2025, detectives from the Sex Crimes Unit, Fugitive Taskforce and general duties arrested a 34-year-old man at a location in Yarrawonga,” the statement.
“The [alleged] offender was not known to the victim.”
The man has been charged with sexual intercourse with a child under 10.
Detective Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said the police investigation into the incident had been “complex” and “confronting” and involved “a very young victim”.
“The [alleged] behaviour exhibited against this child is nothing short of horrendous,” he said.
The 34-year-old was remanded in custody to appear in the Darwin Local Court on Thursday.
In court, the man’s defence lawyer Rebecca Kriesler made an application for bail.
She told the court she accepted the allegations were “very serious”, but said it was likely there would be “extensive” delays before the matter could proceed.
She said her client suffered from a mental condition which required management with medication.
But Judge Stephen Geary was swift to deny bail, saying the allegations against the man were “exceptionally serious” and “disturbing”.
The man remains on remand and is scheduled to re-appear in court in September.