Noordhoek rapist still dangerous and will remain behind bars

A SERIAL rapist who was declared a dangerous criminal in 1998 for terrorising women he met on Noordhoek beach in 1990s this week failed in his release bid.

Instead, Cape Judge President John Hlophe sent Jonathan Francke back to jail, with a stern warning to behave himself behind bars and to undergo further treatment.

The matter will be reassessed when he appears before the Western Cape High Court again in 2018.

Offenders usually become eligible for release on parole after serving half their sentences.

However, since Francke was declared a dangerous criminal, only a judge can decide if he is fit for release or remains a danger to society.

This week Judge Hlophe dashed all his hopes of being freed by con- firming he was still a dangerous criminal.

He ordered Francke to undergo further treatment in prison and requested additional information, including victim impact reports.

In 1998 Francke was sentenced to an effective 18 years behind bars for the rape and attempted rape of women in Noordhoek in 1995 and 1996.

He was also convicted of additional charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault.

During later sentencing proceedings, the court heard evidence Francke’s criminal history dated back to 1975 when he received six lashes for housebreaking at the age of 11. While most of his previous convictions were for assault, there were also two 1986 rape convictions.

Judge Hlophe was provided with a report by prison psychologist Willem Hanekom, in which it emerged Francke has been using dagga and Mandrax since the age of 9. As a result of his drug use, he was “hypersexual”, he told Hanekom.

Hanekom said it was clear Francke was a serial rapist with a “signature”.

Hanekom was unable to recommend Francke be released, saying further incarceration and psychotherapy was necessary.

fatima.schroeder@inl.co.za