Norman Trevor Gilbert: Geraldton man pleads guilty to one rape charge at Batavia building, not guilty to other

A man has admitted to one charge that he raped a woman at the abandoned Batavia Motor Inne, but pleaded not guilty to another charge of the same offence. Norman Trevor Gilbert, 34, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court from custody on April 6, facing two charges of sexual penetration without consent. Between December 18 and 19, Gilbert allegedly twice sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman in a room in the Batavia Motor Inne. He pleaded guilty to one charge, but denied the other. Police alleged he dragged the victim by the hair into the room, which his lawyer denied. According to police, Gilbert and the victim were known to each other, and the woman had to be treated for injuries at Geraldton Health Campus. Gilbert had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges in December and was denied bail. The alleged rape is one of a number of sexual crimes which have happened, or are alleged to have happened, at the abandoned Batavia Motor Inne at Fitzgerald Street. In June 2021, James Sbresni raped a 14-year old girl at the derelict building after grooming her online. The Victorian man had lied on his G2G pass to cross the border into WA, before taking a bus to Geraldton where he sexually assaulted his victim. Police allege on March 15 this year Chad James Broad and George Edward Albert Windie befriended a 12-year-old girl, supplied her with alcohol and took her to the site where she was sexually assaulted. Mr Broad is facing two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13 years and aggravated indecent dealing of a child under 13 years, while Mr Windie is facing two charges of aggravated indecent dealing with a child under the age of 13. Gilbert also pleaded guilty to charges of breaking into Mick Davey Butchers on Marine Terrace and stealing $500 worth of goods on December 20. He will next appear in court for these matters on July 6.