Michael Kenneth Richardson sentenced for rape of 14yo in Biloela

Warning: Distressing content. A Central Queensland man will remain behind bars after he grabbed a drunk 14-year-old girl at a party and assaulted her.

A man has been sentenced for raping a teenager at a party. Picture: iSTOCK

A Central Queensland man will remain behind bars after he grabbed a drunk 14-year-old girl at a party and raped her for about 10 minutes.

Michael Kenneth Richardson, 34, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on April 26 to one count of rape.

Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said Richardson had travelled from Gladstone to Biloela on March 5, 2022 to attend a party at the victim’s mother’s house.

The victim, who was 14 years old, had about five drinks and smoked some marijuana and went inside after she felt intoxicated and sick.

Ms Wilson said the victim was approached by a man who helped her and was then approached by another unknown man who had sexual intercourse with her.

She said sometime after that the victim was grabbed by Richardson, who covered her mouth and grinded himself behind her.

She said Richardson kissed the victim, who tried pushing him away, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t tell your mum I have done this”.

The court heard Richardson then took the victim to an unoccupied room and forcibly raped her for about 10 minutes before ejaculating inside her and leaving.

“The victim was too intoxicated to give consent,” Ms Wilson said.

The victim was taken to hospital by her aunt and Richardson was arrested two days later and remanded in custody.

“He took advantage of her,” Ms Wilson said.

“She was young, vulnerable and intoxicated.

“He took her into an unoccupied room and raped her while she was drunk.”

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said his client grew up spending a lot of time living on the streets and had battled with alcohol throughout his life.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren sentenced Richardson to seven years’ prison, with parole eligibility on July 7, 2024 and 415 days of pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.