CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses rape.
An individual who allegedly attempted to rape a woman outside St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney earlier this week was only just released by the courts weeks ago, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Willow Jones — who is transgender and identifies as such instead of their legal name — allegedly attacked a 31-year-old woman whilst she was walking past the cathedral before midnight on Tuesday.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Jones was arrested on Wednesday at Surry Hills police station and charged with detaining the woman, stalking or intimidating to cause physical harm, and attempted sexual intercourse without consent.
The 47-year-old appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday and claimed they were not responsible for the attack. Jones reportedly had a visibly bleeding scratch on their face during their appearance.
“I identify as transgender and queer… I have nothing to do with it,” Jones said in court but was quickly ordered to stop speaking by the magistrate and their lawyer.
According to police, there was already an existing arrest warrant out for Jones for breaching a community corrections order they were given last month.
Jones was found guilty and convicted of failing to comply with reporting conditions and providing false information and ordered to report to Corrective Services officers in September. Jones was also ordered “not to commit any offence while subject to this Community Corrective Order”, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
Jones is expected to spend Christmas behind bars after making no application for release.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
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