Jail for sex attack on disabled man

A MAN who sexually assaulted his disabled friend while attending a men’s group has been jailed.

Paul Dyson, 50, pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault at the Geelong County Court.

Judge Gerard Mullaly yesterday jailed Dyson, who is also intellectually disabled, for 13 months.

During sentencing Mr Mullaly said Dyson assaulted the man last November.

He said Dyson, who has a low IQ of 60, participated in the program with the man before putting his hand down the back of the victims’ pants and fondling his buttocks.

The court heard Dyson made sexual remarks to the man and later fondled his penis. Mr Mullaly said the consequences of Dyson’s actions had been far reaching and devastating for the man and his family.

“This crime has had a significant adverse impact on the victim and his family,” Mr Mullaly said. “Courts have come to learn that all sexual offending has dreadful and often long-term affects on victims. For the victim — the impacts are profound.”

Mr Mullaly said Dyson’s offending had stripped the victim of his independence and sense of trust in others.

“He has lost his sense of trust in people, he wants only to be with his mother,” Mr Mullaly said.

“(He is) now angry, scared and flat.”

Mr Mullaly said Dyson had a history of offending — having previously been found guilty, without conviction, of sexual assault. He said Dyson had also failed to adhere to his reporting responsibilities.

But Mr Mullaly acknowledged the extent of Dyson’s disability and agreed prison was more onerous on him than others. “The need for protection of the community from your sexual offending (and) lack of impulse control is plainly an important one to consider,” he said.

Dyson was jailed for 13 months with a non-parole period of seven months.

He has already served 214 days of that sentence.