Bundaberg region farm worker pleads guilty to rape, sexual assault

A regional Qld farm worker who raped his ex-partner when she tried to collect her belongings from his house claimed he wanted her to “enjoy it”.

A Bundaberg region farm worker will stay behind bars until Christmas for the vile rape of his ex-partner when she tried to collect her belongings from the man’s home.

A Bundaberg region farm worker will stay locked up until at least Christmas for the vile rape of his ex-partner when she tried to collect her belongings from his home.

Published court documents reveal the man, aged in his 30s and who cannot be named to protect his victim’s identity, was 10 years older than her and had been in a relationship with her for less than a year.

Bundaberg District Court heard his victim’s visit in February 2024 came after he posted on Snapchat another woman had been to his home and an earlier claim on the site, he was going to give the victim’s belongings away when they broke up.

The court heard she arrived at his home in the evening and told the man she did not want to speak with him.

He then followed her into the bedroom and started touching her inappropriately, the court heard.

When she told him to stop, he replied he was sorry, had messed up, and loved her.

A Bundaberg region farm worker will stay behind bars until Christmas for the vile rape of his ex-partner when she tried to collect her belongings from the man’s home. Picture: Generic

He started sexually touching her again before first sitting her on the bed and then pushing her over when she told him to stop and tried to leave.

The court heard she started crying and saying “no” as the assault continued, during which he stripped her clothes off and raped her.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said at one point the man told his victim he “felt like he was raping her”

“Of course that is precisely what you were doing,” Judge Rosengren said.

“You told her that you wanted her to enjoy it – a complete absurdity in the situation in which you knew she was in.”

Judge Rosengren admonished him that his own acknowledgment he was raping his victim was “not even enough” to stop him, and he humiliated and degraded her “for your own sexual gratification”.

The assault continued, first with an item and then raping her a second time.

“I do not know whether you were mocking or … boasting to her but you told her that she was going to have your baby,” Judge Rosengren said.

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The man was arrested two days later.

The court heard his criminal record only had one entry for drug-related offending.

He started using marijuana as a teenager and later developed a drug problem, the court heard.

A victim impact statement from the woman said the attack had “stripped away her self-worth piece by piece until there was nothing left’ and forced her to take time off work.

“She has felt ashamed, broken and dirty … She no longer feels safe no matter where she is, and this has had the consequence of her having to even move out of her hometown,” Judge Rosengren said.

She accepted his guilty plea to two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault and sentenced him to five-and-a-half years’ jail.

One year of pre-sentence custody was declared as time served, and he will be eligible for parole from December 23, 2025.