A MAN who allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old girl during a terrifying 19-hour road trip has been charged by Wagga police.
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Police claim the 31-year-old man kidnapped the teenager from a home in Bankstown about 2am on Monday, driving her around several Sydney suburbs before heading towards Melbourne.
He allegedly performed indecent acts on the girl while in the car.
The car travelled almost 350 kilometres before the victim’s family became aware of her disappearance and contacted police – sparking a statewide manhunt.
Officers at Gundagai located the car on the Hume Highway about 9pm Monday and apprehended the 31-year-old.
The man and victim are believed to be known to each other.
It is understood the man had asked the teenager's family for permission to marry the young woman but they refused and he allegedly abducted her shortly afterwards.
He was taken to Wagga Police Station where he was charged with sexual assault, indecent assault and kidnapping.
He was refused bail to appear at Wagga Local Court on Tuesday.
The victim was taken to Wagga hospital in a stable condition and is assisting police with inquiries.