Australian man admits kidnap and rape of British backpacker
Marcus Martin, 23, held victim captive during 900-mile road trip through the outback
![Austrlia, Car, Rape, Kidnap](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rTp2XZbncCnM7UZgYQCgnX-415-80.jpg)
An Australian man has admitted kidnapping and repeatedly raping a British backpacker during a month-long ordeal after the pair met at a party.
Marcus Martin and the 22-year-old woman, from Liverpool, agreed to go on a road trip together after striking up an acquaintance in Cairns, north Queensland, in early 2017, The Times reports. But after setting off on their journey, he then held her captive for more than 900 miles.
Local man Martin, 23, appeared in Cairns District Court via video link today to plead guilty to three counts of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty, ABC News Australia reports. He had previously pleaded guilty to charges including assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage, and strangulation or choking.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The court heard that his victim was rescued after she “appeared shaken and traumatised at a petrol station in southwest Queensland”, The Daily Telegraph reports. The woman, who has not been named, “failed to pay [for petrol], possibly as part of a deliberate ploy, which prompted the cashier to contact the police”, the newspaper says.
The owner of the petrol station, Beverley Page, told local reporters that she had immediately realised something was wrong.
“She came in, she couldn’t pay for her fuel,” Page said. “She was crying and shaking the whole time - she was really upset. There were two marks on her neck along with the black eyes.”
When police caught up with the 4x4 being driven by the kidnapped woman, Martin was found hiding in an alcove in the rear of the vehicle, ABC reports. He was immediately arrested.
His victim - who arrived in Australia on a working visa in April 2015 - had suffered “facial fractures, bruising, abrasions to her neck and cuts to her body, as well as psychological harm”, according to the BBC.
Speaking shortly after the woman was rescued, Detective Inspector Paul Hart of Queensland Police said: “She is a tourist, a lot of the areas where she would have been would have been unknown to her, and she wouldn’t have known anyone there, so it would have been difficult for her to make an escape.
“What she’s experienced is no doubt horrific and terrifying.”
Martin will return to court in February, when a sentence date will be set, the BBC adds.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why is China stockpiling resources?
The Explainer The superpower has been amassing huge reserves of commodities at great cost despite its economic downturn
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Paraguay's dangerous dalliance with cryptocurrency
Under The Radar Overheating Paraguayans are pushing back over power outages caused by illegal miners
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Tattoo prediction
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Iwao Hakamada: Japan's record-breaking death row prisoner
Under the Radar Former boxer spent 46 years condemned to execution but his retrial could clear his name
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How strawberries are funding crime in Sweden
Under the Radar Police say illegal fruit sales turn over 'billions' of kronor a year for gangsters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
France's 'swinger' capital rocked by fortune teller scandal
Under the Radar Mayor charged with corruption for 'lavishing' taxpayers' money on clairvoyant who 'impersonated' his dead father
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump hush money trial: what has the jury heard?
Today's Big Question Former loyal fixer Michael Cohen proves star witness for prosecution, but Stormy Daniels's graphic testimony could offer grounds for appeal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Weinstein's appeal: a blow to #MeToo
Talking Point Is 'shocking' reversal of symbolic conviction a sign of weakening movement?
By The Week UK Published
-
Do youth curfews work?
Today's big question Banning unaccompanied children from towns and cities is popular with some voters but is contentious politically
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Sydney mall attacker may have targeted women
Speed Read Police commissioner says gender of victims is 'area of interest' to investigators
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why are kidnappings in Nigeria on the rise again?
Today's Big Question Hundreds of children and displaced people are missing as kidnap-for-ransom 'bandits' return
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published