Mark Allan Chantrill to spend at least five more years in jail for latest offending
A MARTIAL artist will serve at least five years jail for breaking into a woman’s house and trying to rape her.
A MARTIAL artist will serve at least five years jail for breaking into a woman’s house and trying to rape her.
Mark Allan Chantrill, 28, broke into a Queenstown home in June last year while on parole for similar offending.
He pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated serious criminal trespass, assault with intent to rape and theft.
Today in sentencing, District Court Judge Michael Boylan said Chantrill broke into the victim’s home through a window and she woke to discover him on her bed with no pants on.
He said Chantrill did not rape the victim and spent about an hour in her house wiping the surfaces down before stealing her wallet and other items.
Judge Boylan said Chantrill’s criminal record dated back nearly 15 years.
He said Chantrill had a very dysfunctional childhood where he was abused and began taking drugs at a young age.
“Drug use has been the bane of your life,” Judge Boylan said.
He said despite Chantrill’s drug abuse, he did well at school and subsequently had a good work record.
“It’s a great pity that drugs have got you into so much trouble,” he said.
“You were a man with promise.”
Chantrill told forensic psychiatrist Dr Craig Raeside that when he committed his latest crime, he was smashed out of his mind.
Judge Boylan said Chantrill had written letters to the court and to the victim who “remains terrified”.
“I doubt very much that she will ever fully recover from what you did to her,” he said.
During submissions, lawyers for Chantrill said their client had found God.
Mark Bastick said his client was teaching martial arts to fellow inmates and planned to move to Spain when released.
Judge Boylan sentenced Chantrill to six years, to be served cumulatively with the remainder of his previous sentence.
He set a non-parole term of five years and backdated the sentence to June last year.