Colin Neil Narkle: Mt Barker man denied bail for alleged ‘chilling’ rape of disabled woman at Bathers Beach

A Mt Barker man accused of raping an intellectually disabled woman on a popular Fremantle beach has been denied bail. Colin Neil Narkle appeared via video link from Albany Regional Prison in Albany Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with four counts of sexual penetration without consent. Police prosecutor Sgt. Dylan Fisher opposed bail for the 38-year-old, citing his history of violence towards women and the seriousness of the alleged crime which he described as a “chilling display of predatory behaviour.” Mr Narkle had allegedly been drinking with friends at Bathers Beach in Fremantle on December 13 last year, when he came across the 26-year-old victim just after midnight and offered to help her locate her family who she had become separated from. Mr Narkle then allegedly led the woman to the dunes where he sexually assaulted her four times. Defence lawyer Kyah Langdon said her client, who himself has learning difficulties and partial cerebral palsy, said the interaction was consensual and there was no penetration. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell denied Mr Narkle’s bail due to the “relative strength” of the prosecution’s case, which includes DNA and CCTV evidence. She also sentenced him on three other charges of possessing a syringe of methamphetamine in August 2024, breaching his bail by failing to appear in court and breaching a police order to stay away from his ex-partner, both in February. The latter charge resulted in his arrest on February 15 after the ex-partner triggered a personal duress alarm that alerted police to his presence at her Mt Barker home. He was also resentenced on a 2024 charge of criminal damage as his new charges breached a community based order. Mr Narkle was fined $800 for possession of the meth and breaching his bail and sentenced to seven months jail for the remaining two charges, backdated to February 16. He will be eligible for parole after serving 3.5 months. Mr Narkle will next appear in Fremantle Magistrates Court on June 27 for a committal mention. If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.