A Sydney hairdresser has been been arrested following allegations that two men were unknowingly drugged and sexually assaulted after being lured to his business through an online dating platform, in a case that has prompted an ongoing police investigation into whether there could be additional victims.

Detectives from the South Sydney Police Area Command arrested the 39-year-old owner of a hair salon on Gardeners Road in Rosebery on Friday morning after what police described as extensive investigations into two separate alleged sexual assaults that occurred earlier this year.

According to NSW Police, the investigation began in June after two men, aged 34 and 37, independently reported that they had been sexually assaulted inside the salon during separate visits. Police allege both men first met the business owner through an online dating website before being invited to the salon, where they unknowingly ingested a substance before the alleged assaults took place.

Investigators allege the incidents occurred on 8 March and 25 May 2026. Although separated by almost three months, police believe the alleged circumstances surrounding each incident were strikingly similar, leading detectives to examine whether a common pattern existed.

The man was arrested at approximately 11am on Friday at the Rosebery business before being taken to Mascot Police Station, where detectives continued questioning him following the arrest. At the time police first announced the arrest, investigations remained ongoing.

Authorities have not publicly identified the accused, and under Australian law he is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the allegations are proven in court.

Police said the two complainants were not known to one another before the alleged incidents, a detail investigators consider significant as they work to establish exactly what occurred during each visit to the salon.

Superintendent Andrew Garner said investigators were still working to determine precisely what substance was allegedly consumed by the two men and how it was administered. Detectives are examining whether it may have been placed into a drink or introduced by another method while the men were inside the premises.

The alleged use of an incapacitating substance has become a central focus of the investigation because it may help explain why the complainants reported having little recollection of parts of the incidents.

Police have not publicly disclosed the nature of the substance allegedly involved, nor have they indicated whether toxicology evidence remains available given the time elapsed between the alleged incidents and the commencement of the investigation.

Investigators have instead focused on gathering witness statements, forensic material and digital evidence that may help establish a timeline of events before, during and after each alleged encounter.

The investigation also includes examining communications between the accused and the complainants after they first connected online. Police allege each man was invited to the salon after initial contact through a dating platform rather than through the business itself.

While salons are typically viewed as public commercial premises, detectives will allege the offences occurred when the complainants were alone with the accused inside the business.

Police have not suggested that any employees or other individuals working at the premises were involved in the alleged offences.

Investigators are also seeking to establish whether CCTV footage, electronic records or other physical evidence can assist in reconstructing the movements of those involved during the relevant dates.

The Rosebery salon is located in Sydney’s inner-south, an area that combines residential neighbourhoods with commercial businesses and attracts visitors from across metropolitan Sydney.

Although police have confirmed only two complainants at this stage, detectives are encouraging anyone who may have experienced similar circumstances or who possesses information relevant to the investigation to contact Mascot Police Station or Crime Stoppers. Authorities have emphasised that reports can be made confidentially and have asked members of the public not to submit information through NSW Police social media channels.

Sexual assault investigations involving allegations of drugging are often among the most complex criminal inquiries undertaken by police because physical evidence may diminish rapidly over time. As a result, investigators frequently rely on a combination of forensic analysis, witness testimony, electronic communications, financial records and CCTV material to piece together an accurate chronology.

Australian policing agencies have repeatedly encouraged people who arrange first-time meetings through dating platforms to consider basic personal safety measures. These include meeting initially in public places where practical, informing a trusted friend of their plans, sharing their live location when appropriate and exercising caution when accepting drinks or food from someone they have only recently met.

Police stress, however, that responsibility for any alleged criminal conduct rests solely with the offender if offences are ultimately proven. Safety advice is intended only to reduce risk and should never be interpreted as shifting responsibility to victims.

The investigation into the alleged offences at the Rosebery salon remains active, and further updates are expected as detectives continue interviewing witnesses, analysing evidence and preparing the matter for court should charges proceed.

Following his arrest, the man was later charged with multiple offences, including two counts of administering an intoxicating substance with intent to commit an indictable offence and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He was refused police bail and was scheduled to appear before Parramatta Bail Court. The charges remain allegations and will be tested through the court process.

Under New South Wales law, offences involving the alleged administration of an intoxicating substance are treated seriously because prosecutors must establish not only that a substance was administered but also that it was allegedly used to facilitate another criminal offence. Sexual intercourse without consent also carries significant penalties if proven beyond reasonable doubt.

At this stage, investigators have not publicly identified the substance allegedly involved, nor have they disclosed whether toxicology testing has identified a specific drug. Police say determining exactly what was allegedly administered, and how it entered the complainants’ systems, remains a key focus of the investigation.

Detectives are expected to continue examining forensic evidence recovered from the premises together with digital communications, electronic devices and other material that may assist in reconstructing the events surrounding both alleged incidents. Such investigations often involve extensive analysis of mobile phones, messaging applications, location records and CCTV footage where available.

Police have also emphasised that investigations involving allegations of drug-facilitated sexual assault can be particularly complex because complainants may have little or no memory of critical periods after allegedly consuming an incapacitating substance. As a result, investigators frequently rely on multiple independent forms of evidence rather than a single source when preparing a prosecution.

The case has also highlighted the increasing role online dating platforms can play in criminal investigations. Authorities allege the complainants first encountered the accused through a dating website before being invited to the salon. While millions of Australians use dating applications safely every year, police have repeatedly warned that offenders sometimes exploit such platforms to arrange meetings with strangers before committing alleged offences.

NSW Police encourage anyone arranging a first meeting with someone they have met online to consider practical safety precautions, including meeting in a public location where possible, informing a trusted friend of their plans, sharing their location with someone they trust and exercising caution when accepting food or drinks from someone they have only recently met. Police stress that these recommendations are intended solely to reduce risk and should never be interpreted as placing responsibility on victims.

Authorities have further urged anyone who believes they may have information relevant to the Rosebery investigation—or who may have experienced similar circumstances—to contact Mascot Police Station or Crime Stoppers. Investigators say even seemingly minor information could assist in establishing timelines or corroborating other evidence already collected during the inquiry.

Police have reminded members of the public not to submit investigative information through NSW Police social media accounts, instead requesting that reports be made directly through official reporting channels so detectives can properly assess and manage potential evidence. Confidential reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers.

Although only two complainants have been publicly identified through the investigation, detectives have not ruled out the possibility that additional witnesses or complainants could come forward as publicity surrounding the case increases. Appeals of this nature are common during investigations into alleged serial offending because police seek to establish whether reported incidents may represent isolated events or part of a broader pattern.

Legal experts note that, as with all criminal proceedings in Australia, the accused is presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves each element of every charge beyond reasonable doubt. The court process will ultimately determine whether the evidence satisfies that legal threshold.

Should the matter proceed to trial, prosecutors would generally be required to present evidence relating to the alleged administration of the substance, the complainants’ capacity to consent, forensic findings, witness testimony and any relevant electronic communications. Defence counsel would then have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution evidence before the court reaches a verdict.

The allegations have attracted significant public attention because they involve a commercial business operating in a busy suburban area and allegations that the complainants were rendered incapable of protecting themselves before the alleged assaults occurred. Cases involving allegations of drug-facilitated sexual offending remain comparatively uncommon but are often among the most resource-intensive investigations undertaken by specialist police detectives.

For now, investigators continue to gather evidence while the criminal justice process moves forward. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact NSW Police or Crime Stoppers. The allegations against the accused remain before the courts, and no findings of guilt have been made.