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A woman has allegedly been raped in the toilet cubicle of a north Queensland fast food restaurant in a "disgraceful" and "random, violent attack", a court has heard.
A Cairns man, 22, has been charged with 10 offences including five counts of rape, and two of sexual assault over the alleged attack on the woman, 37, on Sunday afternoon.
Police said the pair were not known to each other.
CCTV footage referred to by the police prosecutor in court and released by police media shows the man pacing and looking around the Townsville restaurant.
Police prosecutor Kellie Mythen told the Townsville Magistrate's Court this morning the woman did not have a chance to lock the door when she turned and found the defendant behind her.
Ms Mythen said the woman tried to scream but feared she would be strangled when the man placed his hand over her mouth and told her to be quiet.
She said the pair were in the cubicle for about 15 minutes and the victim tried to escape twice.
"The victim is going to suffer some physical and emotional trauma as a result of this," Ms Mythen said.
"The attack that has taken place … can only be adequately described as disgraceful.
"It's a disgraceful display of sexual assault towards an innocent member of the public.
"[It occurred] at a time in the afternoon and early evening where these particular restaurants could see considerable traffic of persons after school hours … when people would be getting their dinner."
Magistrate Cathy Wadley considered the man's limited criminal history but rejected his bail application because of the severity of the alleged offences.
"The offences are extremely serious, there's a strong prosecution case and the allegations involve an unprovoked, random, violent attack on an innocent woman," Magistrate Wadley said.
"Given the level of violence perpetrated, allegedly, I am of the view you are an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of members of the public."
The man's case is next due in court in February 2019.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, townsville-4810, australia, qld, brisbane-4000