Robert El-Chammas, of Ermington, north-west Sydney, crouched low in the dock and covered his face with his hands to avoid stares from the public gallery and a court sketch artist throughout his brief appearance before magistrate Jane Mottley in Burwood Local Court.

El-Chammas faced the court dressed in prison greens following his arrest early yesterday near where the woman - a tourist from Korea visiting her daughter - was allegedly attacked.

Police alleged El-Chammas attacked the woman as she was walking in Anzac Park in Anzac Avenue in West Ryde at 6am.

He is alleged to have twice raped the woman whose screams roused nearby residents who called police.

Officers from Ryde allegedly chased El-Chammas and, after a struggle, arrested him.

He was charged with offences including aggravated sexual assault, inflicting actual bodily harm, assaulting and resisting police. He was also charged with inflicting actual bodily harm upon the woman with intent to have sexual intercourse.

The woman is now recovering at Royal North Shore Hospital.

El-Chammas hung his head low in the dock and refused to make eye contact with Ms Mottley as she read the charges.

As she formally refused him bail, she asked him: "Do you understand just what happened?"

El-Chammas replied: "Yes."

She then formally remanded him to appear in Burwood Court on June 2.

El-Chammas continued to shield his face as he was taken to underground cells by prison officers.