Jail time for ‘cruel’ teenage rapist

AN “arrogant and cruel” Tasmanian teen used “force to overpower” a woman and rape her twice, then threatened he would return to her house with a .22 rifle.

Brighton man Timothy Dean Braslin, 19, was found guilty by a jury in Hobart Supreme Court of two counts of rape.

On December 16, Justice Michael Brett sentenced Braslin to four years’ imprisonment. He will be eligible for parole after serving half.

The sentence was backdated to March 27, although he has been in full-time custody since October 28, 2021, eight days after he raped the woman.

Justice Brett, in his comments upon passing sentence, said Breslin’s “actions were arrogant and cruel, and completely selfish”.

“You did not treat her as a person, but simply used her to gratify your own sexual desires,” Justice Brett said.

“These crimes are extremely serious. You used force to overpower the complainant and, in essence, to take what you wanted from her, without any regard to her wishes or welfare.”

Justice Brett said the woman was in her own home when the October 20 rapes occurred.

“She attempted to physically resist you, but you were able to overcome this resistance because of your greater size and strength,” Justice Brett said.

Upon leaving her house after the assault, Braslin informed her he would be back with a .22 rifle, a threat which terrified the woman.

Justice Brett said Breslin had a significant methamphetamine problem at the time of the offending. He is also affected by a “traumatic brain injury” suffered in a motorcycle accident when he was 13. Breslin was made a reportable offender under the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 for 15 years upon his release from custody.