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Charges over sex assault of girl, 5

Charges over sex assault of girl, 5

Technological advances have led to a 47-year-old Wanneroo man being charged over the sexual assault of a child in 2006.

The victim was five years old when she was allegedly sexually assaulted at a sporting event in the southern suburbs.

Physical materials gathered during the initial investigation were re-examined as part of the Physical Materials Management Project.

The re-examination included applying new forensic tests, which resulted in the fresh line of inquiry and subsequent charges.

“This is an example where advances in forensic science have created a new opportunity for us to investigate a crime that caused significant distress to a young child and her family,” Detective Superintendent Paul Coombes said.

PMMP was launched in 2013 to improve how police handles physical material holdings gathered from crime scenes over more than 30 years.

The accused man has been charged with sexual penetration of a child under 13 and indecent dealing of a child under 13.

He is due to appear in the Rockingham Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.