'Did you just stealth me?': Man accused of raping sex worker in Canberra brothel

CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to an alleged rape.

The man accused of assaulting a sex worker was “being really strange” and “wasn’t in his right mind”, his alleged victim has told jurors.

Aleksandar Ivanovski is accused of stealthing a sex worker, a term that refers to the removal of a condom without a sexual partner’s consent. He has been charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

On the first day of his Supreme Court trial on Monday (17 February), a recording of the alleged victim’s interview with police was played to the court.

In December 2021, Mr Ivanovski arrived at a Canberra brothel, where he paid for a 30-minute-long booking with a sex worker.

Jurors heard each booking would start with a set process, including a shower and a discussion of how all services with a male client would be done with a condom on.

The alleged victim told police Mr Ivanovski appeared reluctant to shower and was “just making things difficult” and “being really strange”.

“That’s when he asks me if he can f–k me raw – and I say no,” she told police.

“I told him that we don’t do natural services [sex acts where a condom isn’t worn]. We don’t do anything without a condom and if he wants to have sex with me [he has to use a condom].”

She alleges that he agreed to put the condom on, and the session continued.

Once the initial booking was finished, the alleged victim told police that the man wanted to extend the booking.

While they were talking about an extension, she alleged she saw drugs when he pulled out money from his wallet.

She said he “wasn’t in his right mind” and alleged he offered her some.

“‘You don’t even have time to do a line. You need to get a wriggle on [and leave],'” she allegedly told him in response.

Mr Ivanovski ultimately paid for a ten-minute extension, and the two went back inside the room and resumed having intercourse.

The woman told police she had given him a new condom to use.

When a timer went off to mark the end of the booking, she told police she allegedly saw a condom on the ground.

“I pull away, and as I turn around, he bends down and picks the condom [up] off the floor,” she alleged.

She asked him, “Did you just stealth me?” and told police he repeatedly denied doing it.

The trial continues before Justice John Burns.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.

You can also submit an online report about a historical sexual assault allegation for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.