Police have charged a 20-year-old Mountain Creek man with sexual assault offences following an incident in Maroochydore yesterday, December 23.

Police will allege the man inappropriately touched a 17-year-old girl, not known to him, at a shopping centre on Horton Parade around 2:30pm.

The incident was immediately reported to police, and officers attended the centre a short time later, with investigators from the Caloundra Child Protection and Investigation Unit arresting the man nearby.

He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of common assault.

He was refused police bail and is due to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court today, December 24.

Police are appealing to anyone with further information or who has witnessed similar incidents to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

If you’ve experienced sexual assault, it is not your fault and you are not alone. There are multiple ways to report what has happened to you depending on your situation.

If there’s an immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). You can also report online via: https://forms.police.qld.gov.au/launch/SexualAssault, over the phone or face to face at a police station.

There are also Alternative Reporting Options available depending on your situation.

For confidential information, counselling and support, call the State-wide Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 or 1800 RESPECT for 24-hour help.

Quote this reference number: QP2402222308