A high-profile man’s son, who sexually assaulted a woman while pretending to be his friend, is facing a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of raping the woman in his home and trying to cover it up.

The offender, aged in his 20s, pleaded not guilty in the County Court, and after a two-week trial the jury returned its verdict on Friday.

A key piece of evidence in the case, prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams told the jury, was an Uber receipt that the man had doctored in a bid to cover up his crimes.

On January 13, 2024, the victim attended the offender’s family home at the invitation of his girlfriend, as the two women were friends, the court heard.

The victim, the offender, and the offender’s girlfriend were joined by a male friend of the offender.

The four spent the evening drinking and playing beer pong at the offender’s home while his parents were away.

As the night went on, the offender and his girlfriend went to bed. The victim and the offender’s friend retired to a second bedroom, where they had consensual sex. Afterwards, the man left the house, ordered an Uber, and arrived at his home just after 2am.

McWilliams said the offender then entered the victim’s room, where he pretended to be the man returning, saying the Uber ride had been cancelled and that he was unable to get another one.

“None of that was true,” McWilliams said.

“The accused closed the [victim’s bedroom] door and left. A short time later, the bedroom door opened and closed quickly. No lights were on and blackout-style curtains on the windows were drawn.”

The victim later told police she was unable to make out the person entering the room, and that the offender, still pretending to be the other man in the house, climbed into her bed and put his hands down into her vagina.

“She was not consenting to be penetrated by the accused. It startled the complainant [who said] ‘wait, stop’,” Williams said.

The incident continued until the victim was able to wriggle away. When she asked if it was the man who had reportedly left and returned, he replied: “yeah it’s me, why wouldn’t it be”.

“You sound a lot like [the offender],” the woman replied.

The offender refused to turn the bedroom light on when requested, McWilliams said, and proceeded to rape the victim again, holding her body and hands down despite being told to stop.

The victim said she was eventually able to get her hands free and feel the person’s hair and face, which she said matched that of the offender.

He then ran from the room, slamming the door behind him, but not before the victim said she could see his longer hair in the hallway light.

The victim left the house at 2.24am, contacting friends and family while distressed and crying, telling them she had been raped.

Later that morning, at about 8.30am, the offender texted and called the man he was friends with and obtained a copy of the Uber receipt. The offender then altered the time of the journey in an attempt to suggest the man did not leave the house until 2.37am.

“Yeah for now don’t get involved, let me handle it,” the offender said to the man.

“Just say you went into [the complaint’s] room when your Uber cancelled. I just want to make sure [her] lies don’t f--- us up.”

“These were rapes committed not through threats, not through force, not through the use of any additional violence. Rather, initially at least, through deception,” McWilliams said.

“He then attempted to avoid accountability with even more deception.”

The victim reported the case to police and made a recorded phone call to the offender. During the phone conversation, the offender told her it would be reassuring to him if she’d “move on with her life”.

Defence barrister David Hallowes, SC, said his client maintained his innocence over the two counts of rape.

Hallowes said five character references indicated the offender was a humble, respectful and honest person who was respectful to all people.

He said it made no sense for the offender to commit the rapes so close to where his girlfriend was sleeping.

“He is innocent of both of these charges,” Hallowes said.

“Witnesses who believe what they’re saying can get things wrong. We do say she has got things wrong.

“He did not go into that room. He did not get into bed. He did not commit those offences that are alleged.

“Was this really a tight-knit group of friends, or … were some closer than others?”

The rapist sobbed in the dock after being found guilty, while his family and friends cried, held hands and shook their heads.

The court was closed after the hearing so they could say goodbye to him after his application for bail was refused.

Judge Gregory Lyon said the average jail sentence for a rape charge was seven to 10 years and that the offender had engaged in a “chain of deliberate conduct which adds to the seriousness” of the case.

The maximum jail term for rape is 25 years’ imprisonment.

The case will return for a plea hearing next week.

Support is available from the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) and Victims of Crime Helpline (1800 819 817).

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