Police say a Hamilton man has been charged with serious sexual offences following the "most intensive local police operation in recent memory".
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Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Asenjo, commanding officer of the Warrnambool-based south-west family violence unit, said a 26-year-old was interviewed on Friday and charged with aggravated burglary, robbery, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault.
He said a Hamilton woman in her mid-40s was alone at an address in Hamilton when an unknown man confronted her at 1.10pm on Wednesday.
He said the incident was protracted and involved the use of weapons.
"The victim as a result was significantly traumatised," Detective Senior Sergeant Asenjo said.
He alleged the man had fled the property in a vehicle and was observed by a witness, who threw a pot plant at the windscreen, causing it to smash.
"We received some good information from the public and that vehicle was subsequently located the following morning," Detective Senior Sergeant Asenjo said.
He said the man was arrested after police at Point Cook, south-west of Melbourne, were called to reports of a male "in trouble" about 2am.
"Police arrested the male and he was subsequently conveyed to hospital for an assessment. Once cleared from the hospital, the man was conveyed to the Wyndham police station," he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Asenjo said the 60-plus-hour manhunt was "one of the most intensive local police operations in recent memory".
"We had investigators from the Hamilton crime investigation unit and uniform, the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team, Portland crime investigation unit, and wonderful crime scene services and fingerprint experts from Ballarat, all that took part in the initial action to investigate the matter and subsequent searches for the gentleman afterwards," he said.
"Our wonderful SOCIT investigators were allocated to help manage and support the victim as well as obtain timely and relevant information to support the investigation.
"Following that, she was referred to specialists, trauma counsellors and other support services.
"As with many of these investigations, assistance and information from the community is of paramount importance."
The man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon for a filing hearing.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until March 25, 2022.
A magistrate listed a number of custody management issues, including undiagnosed mental illness and withdrawing from methamphetamine.
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Jessica Howard
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
