A 34-year-old man accused of holding his girlfriend captive by chaining her to their bed with a padlock and assaulting her with a meat tenderiser now faces new, more serious charges including rape and intentional choking.
Escalating Allegations of Captivity and Violence
Luke Woodward has been hit with six new offences on top of five previous charges, following a police investigation into the alleged prolonged imprisonment and abuse of his 32-year-old partner. The woman was allegedly detained inside their Oak Flats home, near Lake Illawarra south of Sydney, where Woodward is accused of securing her to their bed with a heavy metal chain padlocked to her right ankle.
A Life of Confinement and Control
According to police allegations, the woman was only unlocked from the bed to eat and use the toilet. Her partner allegedly took her mobile phone, wallet, and keys, effectively isolating her from family, friends, and work. The alleged abuse reportedly escalated over time, with the woman being chained up by day and whenever Woodward left their home on The Esplanade.
Police further allege she was assaulted with scissors and a meat tenderiser, suffering significant injuries including a fractured eye socket, extensive bruising, and broken ribs.
The Dramatic Escape and Aftermath
The alleged captivity only ended on August 5 last year, when during a rare excursion to access her bank account at a local ATM, the woman managed to flee. She reportedly hid in the Oak Flats Pharmacy on Central Avenue while Woodward allegedly drove up and down the street searching for her.
The terrified woman approached a customer inside the pharmacy for help before being taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station. There, she reported domestic violence injuries and was subsequently admitted to Shellharbour Hospital for treatment of her fractured eye socket and ribs.
Arrest and Initial Charges
Police attended The Esplanade home the following afternoon and arrested Woodward, who was refused bail. He initially faced five charges including:
- Kidnapping with intent to commit a serious indictable offence
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence related)
- Taking and detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage
- Common assault
- Stalking and intimidation
New Charges and Court Proceedings
Following further investigation, Wollongong detectives laid additional charges against Woodward while he remained in custody. He was due to face Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday charged with:
- Sexual intercourse without consent (domestic violence related)
- Common assault (domestic violence related)
- Two counts of intentionally choking a person with recklessness
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence related)
- Intending abusive behaviour to coerce or control an intimate partner (domestic violence related)
Complex Case Requires Adjournment
The court heard that the police brief of allegations against Woodward was so substantial that the matter required adjournment to allow prosecutors adequate time to prepare. Magistrate David Williams granted the adjournment request.
Previous court hearings have revealed that Woodward was allegedly motivated by a fear that the woman might be sneaking out at night to have sex with other men, according to police allegations presented to the court.
