DNA link leads to sex assault arrest

Police arrest a man in Riverwood for the alleged abductions and sexual assaults of five girls in Sydney more than 20 years ago. Photo: Supplied

An alleged child molester will appear in court after his DNA was linked to the violent abduction and sexual assault of five girls in Sydney more than 20 years ago.

Police will allege the 44-year-old man sexually assaulted the victims, some at knifepoint, between August 1989 and September 1991.

Detectives arrested the man at Riverwood on Monday and charged him with 19 offences.

Sex crime squad detectives said eachcase was thoroughlyinvestigated but forensic andinvestigativelimitation at the time meant no one was charged.

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It was not until 2011 that police were able to establish a clear DNA link between all five sexual assaults.

It will be alleged the man assaulted the girls, aged between nine and 17, after finding them on isolated streets or bike tracks in Bankstown, South Strathfield, Punchbowl and Artarmon.

Police will allege the first victim, aged nine, was grabbed on a Bankstown street and dragged to a nearby derelict house where she was sexually assaulted in August1989.

About five months later, a girl, 12, was approached on a bike track at South Strathfield and threatened with a knife before she was sexually abused in bushland.

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DNA link leads to sex assault arrest