Defiant victim confronts rapist in District Court of South Australia

A UNIVERSITY student who was raped by her privately educated friend defiantly faced him in court to tell him how his crime had changed her life forever.

A UNIVERSITY student who was raped by her privately educated friend has defiantly faced him in court as prosecutors submit they are not opposed to his jail sentence being suspended.

Scott Braeden Belcher, 20, of Lockleys, has pleaded guilty to rape — five months after initially denying the charges in court — over the incident at Dulwich in October, 2013.

As her victim impact statement was read to the District Court on Monday, the woman looked at Belcher and told him his betrayal had changed her life forever.

“It is unacceptable for you to believe and act with power and control over women,” she said.

“It is every woman’s right to make their own decisions but you thought you were entitled to what you wanted and you put your needs above mine.”

The woman said she had felt “victimised” and “blamed” after the rape as Belcher denied responsibility for the crime for almost 18 months.

“You took away my power and control to inflict sexual violence on me,” she said.

“Because of your actions you have to sit there (in the dock), but, I am able to stand here.

“Your actions have taken away my freedom to live my life in a carefree way and now you face the risk of losing your own freedom through those same actions.”

The court heard Belcher had sent an apology SMS text message to the woman two days after the rape but had initially denied the crime until he pleaded guilty in April this year.

Belcher had earned an academic scholarship at Scotch College and started studying to become an architect. He had since changed to an economics degree and was achieving high marks.

The court heard the woman had met Belcher through mutual acquaintances and were friends before the incident.

“My fears for the future are no longer will I get my dream job or will I tick off my whole bucket list,” she said.

“Because of Scott Belcher’s actions ... I don't know how long I’m going to have to endure all these overwhelming and unwavering issues and how long will it take to be carefree again.”

Prosecutor Gina Giorgini said rape cases would normally attract incarceration but she was not opposed to Belcher being spared immediate jail time.

“It is for Your Honour to consider whether there is sufficient material here to justify a suspended sentence, but, in my submission, there are some factors there which do support a suspended sentence,” she said.

“The complainant has always expressed her desire that the defendant take responsibility for his actions. That has always been her main focus.”

Defence lawyer John Dillon said Belcher accepted that his actions were “absolutely out of order” on the night of the offending.

“This is a man who regrets his actions of that evening and he wished with all his heart to apologise to the victim in respect of what he did that night,” he said.

Mr Dillon said Belcher was depressed and had just been through a relationship breakdown when he raped the woman.

He said because of Belcher’s young age, his remorse, his psychological mind frame at the time of the rape and unlikeliness to reoffend, a suspended jail sentence was justified.

Judge Steven Millsteed said it was a “very sad case”.

“He has no criminal history and he has committed a disgraceful act towards a very pleasant young woman,” he said.

“Both appear to have good backgrounds, both appear to be decent people apart from the grave aberration from Mr Dillon’s client.”

Judge Millsteed will sentence Belcher next month.