A MAN accused of abducting and raping an 11-year-old Newcastle schoolgirl in an alleged horrific five hour ordeal that “sent shivers down spines” of the NSW community has been identified.

Brett David Hill, 47, faced Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link where magistrate Robert Stone lifted the non-publication order that had earlier been placed on the alleged attacker’s name. He has been charged with kidnapping, six counts of aggravated sexual assault, and four counts of aggravated indecent assault.

Hill’s solicitor, Rob Hussey, told the magistrate his client feared for his safety and was being housed in protective custody with another inmate who suffers from schizophrenia and has access to a television, a kettle and razor blades.

The prosecutor argued the “public should be aware of the allegations and the alleged perpetrator of the allegations”. Mr Stone ultimately revoked the order for the purposes of open justice.

The court heard that one witness had so far come forward and that DNA evidence had been recovered and a preliminary test completed. Hill did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

As Hill went to leave the video room, a man in the public gallery shouted: “Hang the bastard”, Fairfax reported. But it wasn’t immediately clear if the accused was able to hear or if the connection from the courtroom was on mute.

Police have described Hill as an unemployed Newcastle resident, separated from his wife, who lives a nomadic lifestyle.

His alleged victim, a Year 6 student, told police she was walking to school through Hudson Park in Adamstown Heights when she was grabbed from behind and threatened by a man with a knife, sexually assaulted, and forced into a red car, just after 9.15am on Tuesday last week.

According to police, her alleged attacker then drove her to bushland where she was sexually assaulted for several hours before being released at Kotara Railway Station just before 2.15pm — five hours after she was abducted.

Police were called when the girl walked 1.5km home and told her grandmother of the alleged attack.

She was taken to John Hunter Hospital for medical examination and later released.

Following the alleged attack, police scoured the area for CCTV, sought dashcam footage and searched through bushland next to Belair Public School for clues to catch the predator.

The breakthrough came when police obtained dashcam footage from a bus on Friday night.

Hill was detained by police during a vehicle stop in Hamilton just after midday on Saturday following a four-day manhunt. His red Holden Commodore was seized for forensic examination.

Detective Superintendent Brett Greentree said the alleged crimes had sent “shivers down the spines” of the community.

He praised the schoolgirl and her family for helping NSW Police during the investigation.

“This brave little girl is certainly a hero and the courage she has displayed, along with her family, in terms of supporting the police has just been fantastic,” he told reporters on Sunday. “And it has ultimately led to this arrest.”

Detective Superintendent Kerlatec, Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, said the brazen nature of the alleged crimes had caused concern in the police force and the community.

“Every crime against a child is horrendous … Each (crime) is the most horrific time in their lives … This incident is horrific,” he said. “We were concerned because this person [allegedly] committed a crime in broad daylight and until that person was in custody there was a lot of restless nights.”

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob, from the sex crimes squad, last week described the girl as “brave” and said she was doing “remarkably well” given what she allegedly endured.

A parent of a friend of the girl previously told The Daily Telegraph the community would rally around the “quiet polite little girl” and her family.

“I saw her [last week] get into the ambulance … she was just so distraught,” she said.

“It’s horrible, it’s devastating to think a child has been [allegedly] treated like that.”

The NSW Department of Education provided a letter for schools to give to parents and Kotara South Public School principal Susan Maxworthy said stranger danger talks had taken place in classrooms and assemblies.

Hill will remain behind bars in a protective custody cell on his own and is due back at Newcastle Local Court on August 15.