Teen rapist gets home detention

Ateenager who admitted raping two schoolgirls and violating another — while they were too drunk to stop him — has been sentenced to 12 months’ home detention.

The sentence has outraged victim advocates and those who know the teen, saying it sent a dangerous and “awful” message to other young men.

The North Shore youth was charged with two counts of sexual violation by rape and another of sexual conduct with a person under 16.Two of the charges were representative meaning police believe the youth committed multiple offences of the same type in similar circumstances. He was 17 when he was arrested but the first two assaults happened when he was aged between 15 and 16.

A teenager who knows the rapist was appalled at the sentence.

“What kind of message does that send to girls?” he said.

White Ribbon ambassador Mark Longley said the sentence was “shocking” and “not a punishment at all”.

Victim advocate Ruth Money said the case would prevent other people disclosing abuse, fearing a lack of justice.

The youth was charged last year and after a lengthy legal process was sentenced in the North Shore District Court.

In 2016 the youth raped a 14-yearold girl at a party after he encouraged her “to drink copious quantities of vodka”.

The second victim was 15 and was also encouraged to drink alcohol before the assault.

On multiple other occasions the youth and the girl were having consensual sex and he refused to stop when she told him to.

The third victim, 14, was staying

with girlfriends when she was assaulted.

The youth admitted the offending. Judge Pippa Sinclair said the victims had suffered significant emotional and psychological harm.

“[The victims] describe feeling happy and confident . . . Since your offending their lives have changed,” she said in sentencing notes obtained by the Herald. “Your offending and the court process has left them scarred and distressed.”

She said her sentence had to hold the youth to account, denounce his behaviour and deter him and others

What kind of message does that send to girls? Teen who knows rapist

from similar offending.

“I also need to be mindful of your rehabilitative and reintegrative needs, particularly given your age,” she said.

“Ultimately, I must impose the least restrictive outcome in these circumstances.”

The judge said there was a presumption a repeat rapist would be sentenced to prison. But she had to consider the facts, including his personal circumstances, before determining whether jail was appropriate.

Judge Sinclair set a starting point of eight years’ jail but sliced 50 per cent off that on the basis of the rapist’s age. She gave him further discount for his early guilty plea, previous good character and unblemished record, family support and willingness to engage in rehabilitation.

A pre-sentence report stated the youth’s offending “reflects a lack of insight, age, a high sense of entitlement and excessive use of alcohol”.

After the discounts the sentence fell to two years, meaning the judge could consider home detention.