A Fairy Meadow man has been arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault and aggravated robbery after he allegedly attacked a female University of Wollongong student at knifepoint last week.
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The 20-year-old woman, who lives at the university's Campus East, was among college residents at Fairy Meadow's Cabbage Tree Hotel on Monday night last week.
She left the hotel about 1.30am and started to walk towards Elliotts Road, when she was approached from behind by a man.
He produced a knife and punched the woman several times in the face, before dragging her into a vacant black of land in Elliotts Road, police said.
Police will allege the man threatened to sexually assault the woman, punching her several times before stealing her wallet and mobile phone after she threw them towards him.
The man ran from the scene towards the beach.
About 6.45am on Wednesday, Wollongong police officers searched a Fairy Meadow unit and seized some items.
Later that morning officers returned to the unit and arrested the 49-year-old man. He was taken to Wollongong police station where he was charged with assault with intent to have sexual intercourse and aggravated robbery.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Port Kembla Local Court on Thursday.