Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull: Woman describes impact of rape by men she considered friends

A young woman raped by two close friends in a caravan during a 21st birthday party has opened up about how the ordeal has impacted her life.

A young woman raped by two men she considered close friends has “bravely” faced them in court to detail the impact their actions have had on all aspects of her life.

The woman, from western Victoria, described the seven years since the ordeal as the “worst” she has ever had to go through.

“Having two friends I trusted … assault me, this crime will always have an impact on my life,” she said.

Her statement came after Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull, both 28, were found guilty by a jury over the rape in April 2016.

The two men returned before the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday where they were sentenced to time served and placed on community corrections orders.

Both men walked free the same day.

Luke Merryfull and Shaun Bloomfield were first convicted over the rape in 2019, but the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial the following year. Picture: Supplied.

The court heard their victim had moved interstate, feeling “ostracised” by the community she grew up in.

“She has a substantial loss of confidence and trust in everything and anyone – it impacts upon all aspects of her life,” Judge David Brookes said as he handed down his sentence.

“She has serious mental health problems relating to post traumatic stress disorder, depressive episodes and severe anxiety.

“Her view of the world and her trust of people will always be affected.”

The court heard the woman was once the life of the party but now finds herself struggling to eat or leave the house.

The sexual attack occurred at a friends 21st birthday party in regional Victoria in the early hours of the morning.

Many of the attendees had been drinking heavily that night, with the victim trying to go to sleep in a caravan on the property.

The men, then aged 21, climbed into bed on either side of their victim.

Once others inside the caravan had left, Merryfull suggested a threesome – which the woman “immediately and clearly rejected”.

Shaun Bloomfield, 28, is a GPS technician in Horsham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

She was digitally raped by Bloomfield before Merryfull removed his pants and raped her.

When he finished he said words to the effect of: “she’s all yours now”.

Merryfull then left the caravan, with Bloomfield forcing the woman to touch his penis before raping her.

Both men leaving the party shortly after and have maintained the sex was consensual.

The woman called friends for help, with one later describing her as “distressed and confused”.

Judge Brooks rejected suggestions the men genuinely believed she had consented, blasting their actions on the night as “appalling”.

“Each of you knew she wasn’t consenting but you went ahead believing or hoping nothing would come of it,” he said.

He said they had shown a “certain degree of callousness” towards the victim as merely an object for them to have their way with.

Both men, who had served about 19 months in custody ahead of their sentence, were found to have made significant steps to rehabilitate their lives despite denying any wrongdoing.

“In my view, this is one of the rare cases where ordinary members of the community would not necessarily expect a further term of imprisonment be imposed,” Judge Brookes found.

“I have no doubt you have solid prospects of resuming a lawful life after your release.”

Sentence for Luke Merryfull who was convicted of raping a friend at a 21st birthday party in 2016, at County Court Victoria. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Bloomfield was placed on a three-year community corrections order with 300 hours of community service on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Merryfull, who was convicted on one count of rape, will have to complete a two-year community corrections order with 200 hours of service.

In her statement, the victim wrote of continued feelings of hurt, anger, sadness and confusion following the actions of the two men she considered close friends.

She has been regularly seeing a psychologist and spoke of optimism that one day she will be able to move on with her life.

“She’s working on the impact being less and less each year but her view of the world and her trust of people will always be affected,” Judge Brooks said.

Originally published as Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull: Woman describes impact of rape by men she considered friends