Accused Sydney hotel rapist refused bail

A 20-year-old man from Byron Bay is accused of attacking a woman in a room at Sydney’s Star Grand Hotel on Saturday night.

Police allege Joel Nathan Fitzpatrick Burtt choked the woman, caused damage to her face and sexually assaulted her between 8pm and 9pm.

A court was told that a guest at the hotel heard a woman in another room say "stop stop stop" many times during the violent assault and rape.

According to a police summary of the allegations, the witness also recalled hearing another woman say, "look what you have done to her face”.

On Monday, Fitzpatrick Burtt presented himself to police and was charged with three offences including aggravated sexual assault.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Robert Williams refused bail over concerns he posed a risk to the woman, would fail to appear for future court dates and would commit serious offences if granted bail.

The court heard that Fitzpatrick Burtt was serving a nine-month intensive corrections order for driving under the influence of alcohol, for which he was meant to abstain from alcohol.

It is alleged that he consumed alcohol on Saturday before the alleged rape.

Fitzpatrick Burtt was remanded in custody until January 12, where he will celebrate his  21st birthday.

Jonathan Jackson - 02-11-22