Abbotsford panelbeater Garry Cook released on historical rape charges

JD
Updated August 3 2022 - 5:46pm, first published 3:27pm
Abbotsford panel beater bailed on sex charges
Abbotsford panel beater bailed on sex charges

An Abbotsford business owner arrested and charged with 35 historical sexual offences last month has appeared in court and been granted bail.

The 71-year-old has been identified as Garry Cook, the owner of a Church St panel beating shop, who according to reports, is suspected of using client's cars or number plates to conceal his identity.

According to the reports, Cook allegedly sexually assaulted two 15-year-old girls, using a gun and knife to threaten them, after he gave them lifts in incidents a few weeks apart in the Dandenong Ranges in 1998.

Cook, a Drouin resident who at the time of the attacks lived in Menzies Creek, has been charged with multiple counts of rape, make threats to kill, and unlawful imprisonment.

The father of eight children to four women, he has been released on bail on a $500,000 surety posted by his sister.

He will return to court in November.

JD

Jenny Denton

Journalist

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