Ballarat activist attacked
The organiser of gay marriage rallies in Ballarat has claimed he was targeted in a late-night sexual assault because he was well-known for his gay rights activism.
Koby Drake, 20, told Southern Star he was approached by a man in the early hours of May 1 who identified him from stories he’d seen in the local press about gay marriage.
Drake said he was approached by the man in Lydiard St, Ballarat. A conversation started and it’s alleged the man sexually assaulted him shortly after.
“I’ve never seen him before but he said he recognised me,” Drake said.
“He took me to a vacant lot … it was traumatic and stressful.”
It’s claimed the man exposed himself and later led Drake to a vacant lot where he allegedly sexually assaulted him.
Drake said he escaped by walking to a friend’s house nearby and was later driven to a police station to report the incident.
Drake said he was “a bit shaken up” but while lying on a hospital bed getting a forensic medical examination he vowed to fight for same-sex marriage rights harder than ever.
“I will not let this stop me fighting for my rights,” he said. “I’m not going to let this intimidate me into not keep going.”
In an earlier written statement, Drake said he blamed the Government for not giving gay couples the right to marry.
“I want everyone to be free to do whatever, and if that means I have to keep standing up, I will do that,” he said.
Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Paul Jolly told Southern Star a suspect had been interviewed.
Jolly confirmed a 42-year-old Mount Clear man had been interviewed in relation to the incident but “released pending further inquiry”.
No charges have been laid.
To the people who are accusing Koby of creating a false statement you are disgusting. Instead of the support koby deserves you’re being immature and shallow. Grow up and get over yourselves!!!
My friend’s and i say that this article is just some way for attention. who walks around late at night in Ballarat??? obviously it’s a cry for attention!!!
I also know Koby, I hope he is telling the truth here and ill belive he is unless its proven otherwise, i do think it was a bit sudden and public to hit the papers and his facebook page and will admit at the time i wondered if it was a tall story to begin with. I give my friends the benifit of the doubt but if this story is fabricated, it will be found out and punishment both physically and socially will take place.
For those who believe that koby has been suspicious or false.
Beilg kobys partner i have stood by him through this, it has been hard for both of us, family and all close friends to Koby.
The night ‘it’ happened i was expecting him to come home after being out with friends. I was really worried for him and had trouble sleeping. He still wasnt home by the time i was getting ready to start work. I was wanting to call in sick because i was soo worried. My friend and workmate convinced me to work and not to worry and just go to work, so i did
Then after a hour or so of work I got a phonecall from his mum… she picked me up from work and took me directly to the police station. My worst fears were a reality.
Hours after waiting for him to come out of the police station… I still cant erase the look in his eyes out of my head when i finally got to see him.
Some of these comments that have been posted, just hurt and frustrate me. I cant belive how cold some people are and how anyone would think this was made up as attention seeking. Shame on you
What this shows by the people writing these comments is low caracter, lack of compassion and really just plain heartless ranting.
Koby your one amazing guy and hopefully through your articles if there have been other victoms of abuse hopefully they will get courage from you and speak out
you all need to stop puting koby down yous dont know him and have no idea what the kid is going through people deal with things in there own way and its his way of dealing with it and letting the guy no that he will not ruin his life or stop him from doing what he believes in and good on him for getting it out there it may also encourage others to come forward as it can be a very hard thing to do, koby has been very brave and we should be supporting him with this not ditching him or saying what you guys are saying
good on you koby xo
yes please watch this space … because it is also an offence to hinder prosicution … and in so many case’s the victim become’s the accussed … on my way to the hospital i stopped off at an indiginous friend of mine house and she also said that this may happen because not only in the gay community does this happen … we have heard police say in the past isnt this what your kind want and my friend also has a gay sister and we find it very desturbing when officer’s are swore in to protect the community against preditor’s and can not leave their homophobic belief’s out of their work … whether your gay, a prostitute or straight the minute the word NO comes in it becomes an offence and the way you have phrased your comment sounds more like a threat to intimidate any further action from Koby and it is ment to be a matter of the courts to decide … the judicial system is ment to stand for both parties “innocient until proven guilty” and believe me even if proven innocient we have seen guilty parties walk from courts before … and all because the victim becomes the accused and none of this here is helpin future rape victims
oh and he also did it to put out there that id does happen to males also not just females and they should speak up
people deal with these matters all different ways and at first he didnt think of putting in the pappers he got a sudden urge as 2 im not going to let this guy destroy my life or what i believe in and he wonted this guy 2 no that.
you guys would not no the first thing about how it has changed alot of things in his life so stop putting him down for it im behind him 100% in this and happy he has the courage to do it
jeremy you are an idiot mate do you even no what this kid is going through? and for your information the police of dna ya tosser and have spoken to this guy and also have video footage of this guy approaching him. people male or female dont need 2 hear your shit wen they are going through a tough time so go fuk ya self
Koby is genuine, ladies stop being evil queens, you should try and talk to the ballarat police, if you think its so frigging easy, so pull your heads in and leave him alone.
I’ve been bashed and harassed by police for NOTHING in Ballarat, the service is shit I must say!
Do not be at all suprised Koby if you get a knock on the door. It is an offence to make a false report to Police. Watch this space.
Rape is under reported in our community. I have known a few people who have described being raped over the years. None went the police.
Just because charges have not been laid does not mean it did not happen. It is often your word against the rapist. It can be difficult for the police and the victim to get a result.
If CASA is involved then it is very serious. I feel very sorry for Koby to have to see some of the comments here. Raped once in Ballarat and again on this forum.
well i find that very desturbing that people think along these line of conspiracy theories … there are better ways to draw media attension … struggle to get out of bed well that a statement that could be passed onto his partner because this has affected his realationship to the point he is stayin with me … he gave his job up of door knocking because he didnt know who maybe behind them close doors … as child he was abused and things had been kept hush hush so when he does finally come out to speak to a community of men to try and let others know if this happened to you it’s alright to report it he is branded … if this story helps 1 other male to come forward then it’s a job well done … this is petty back biting bitching amongst your own kind … foresenic id the person in question and he has been questioned by police … koby’s anger came from the perp saying he reackonised him from newspaper articles for the gay rallies … and if the goverment was to reackonise some things then perhaps he may not have been a victim … and once again you are making him a victim to the media on a mental abuse trying to silence him … thank you very much
I seriously doubt the police would have a forsensic medical examination done unless they saw enough phyical evidence to warrant one being conducted. And, for the police to actually interview a suspect is no small matter. Given the actions of the police following Koby’s reporting the assault, it can be concluded that an assault did take place.
Ummm. Embellished? At 55 kilos, Koby is not exactly a big butch stud. I would think he would be an easy target for assault. Being very publicly out of the closet, and very publicly visible organizing marches/rallies supporting gay marriage is NOT a personal political agenda. Activists should be support, especially while you are safe in your closet.
I hate to say it too, but I really don’t believe the story. I have known koby drake for many many years (long before he had any interest in fighting for gay rights) and the koby I know is very capable of making up such a story and following thru with it. Sounds like a grab for attention, which really is un nessacary, the fight for gay rights can stand on its own without a story like this.
I know Koby from Facebook and I also agree that he is really just attention-seeking and completely media hungry. If this really happened then it’s horrible but he isn’t really acting like the victim of a crime more like the star of a soap! Otherwise why would he keep pitching his story to different newspapers??
and the reason i went to the paper, was for a personal agenda, which was saying “hey, this wont stop me from being in the paper and speaking out” I did regret it for a second, and that’s all i feel i should say to defend myself. I know what happened and why I did what I did.
well all id add to that is that CASA is being a real help to me and if anyone goes through this, even if unreported contact them, als centercare has a really good program for councelling and offering service’s to any victims of crime so they would be an awsome place to start.
Hate to say it, but I was thinking the same thing Jeremy and I feel awful as a result. The whole thing seems suspicious to me, and that is usually the last thing I think when I hear about someone being assaulted. When I was assaulted in Ballarat, rushing to the local newspaper to get my story published was the last thing on my agenda. Just getting out of bed and leaving the house was big enough a struggle. His vow to keep fighting for gay rights smacks of opportunism.
Jeremy your an idiot. If this was a a girl saying she’d been assulted would you be claiming it was just to get her name in the paper? Don’t be a tool
What some people will do to get their name in the paper! It’s already becoming obvious that this story was made up (or at least embellished) to further Koby’s personal political agenda. Quite sad really.