Teen charged over Cairns assault, theft

An 18-year-old man has been charged with burglary and the sexual assault of a woman as she slept in her north Queensland home, while another man is on the run.

It's alleged the 18-year-old and another man broke into a home in the Cairns suburb of Kanimbla around 1am on Wednesday and stole phones, wallets and a handbag before one of them indecently assaulted the woman as she slept.

The woman woke and screamed and the two men ran from the home, but officers quickly arrived and spotted the men running nearby.

Police caught the 18-year old, but his alleged accomplice escaped.

The alleged offender has been charged with one count each of sexual assault and burglary and will face Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday.