Man accused of invading home, assaulting women and forcing them to clean up evidence

James Dudley March (right) is escorted to the Canberra City Police Station. Photo: ACT Policing.

A man has been extradited from Sydney and charged with breaking into the home of two women late one night in central Canberra. Once there, he allegedly assaulted them and prevented them from leaving, while also making them clean up evidence of his alleged crimes.

James Dudley March, 35, did not apply for bail when he appeared over audio-visual link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (20 May), so has been held in custody.

ACT Policing allege he broke into the Ainslie home on the evening of 4 March 2022, woke up one of the women while she was sleeping in her bedroom and assaulted her.

When the second woman came into the bedroom, he allegedly assaulted her too.

Mr March then allegedly threatened the women and forced them to shower and wipe down surfaces to try and hide forensic evidence.

Police said they conducted an extensive investigation, including examining forensic evidence from the scene, before finding Mr March in Sydney and arresting him on Wednesday (18 May) with the help of NSW Police.

An order for his extradition was granted by Waverly Local Court before he appeared in the Canberra court on Friday, where Magistrate Peter Morrison charged him with two counts of assault, unlawful confinement and threatening a participant in a criminal investigation, as well as one count of burglary.

Mr March told Magistrate Morrison he had declined assistance from Legal Aid and did not want to apply for bail.

He was remanded in custody to next appear in court on 3 June. No pleas were entered.