A French man wanted for the alleged sexual assault of a woman after she had fallen at a nightclub on New Year's Day has faced court.
Adam Berguiga, 22, appeared in custody at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with seven offences, including rape and recklessly causing injury.
He was arrested in Sydney after police had been searching for him and put a warrant out for his arrest.
Police say Berguiga helped a woman from the dance floor after she fell while celebrating New Year's Eve with friends at a Melbourne nightclub.
It is alleged he then sexually assaulted the woman shortly after, about 4.30am on January 1, on Corrs Lane, a laneway in Melbourne's CBD.
Berguiga is accused of leading the victim to Little Bourke Street before leaving the area, police claim.
He was arrested at Sydney Airport about 12pm on January 4 and extradited to Melbourne.
Among his charges are two counts of rape, intentionally sexually touching without consent, assault and recklessly causing injury to bruise shoulder, causing soreness to head and grazes to knees, court documents reveal.
He is further accused of driving on Russell Street and King Street in Melbourne's CBD on January 1 without a licence.
Berguiga, who was assisted by a French interpreter, does not speak any English and was vulnerable in custody due to his young age, his lawyer told the court.
She said it was his first time in custody and asked for her client to be seen by a mental health nurse.
He had one supporter in court, who waved at him and the magistrate during the brief hearing.
Berguiga did not apply for bail and will return to court for a committal mention on April 10.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
