Bundaberg’s Wizard Drilling owner Geoffrey Charles Rogers jailed for rape

A victim has spoken about how a well-known Bundaberg businessman stole her innocence and left her with “overwhelming” lifelong trauma when he raped her as a young girl.

A victim of a well-known Bundaberg businessman has spoken about the “overwhelming” lifelong trauma she experienced after being raped and sexually assaulted by the father of four.

Geoffrey Charles Rogers, 59, who owns the two successful companies – AustralianSeafood.com and Wizard Drilling – was sentenced in Maroochydore for the “violent” sex crimes he committed against a girl who was under 16 at the time.

Rogers had previously pleaded guilty in the Gympie District Court to 12 charges in total.

He was sentenced in Maroochydore District Court on Thursday to two counts of rape, two counts of common assault and three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Birkett said in 1998, when Rogers was 36, he sexually assaulted the victim who was 15 at the time.

Geoffrey Rogers has been jailed for the “violent” rape of a woman who was underage at the time.

He touched her breasts, digitally raped her and called her a “sl-t”.

A few days later, he took the victim on a tour of his farm before raping her, slapping her across the face and biting her breasts.

In a third incident, Rogers took the girl to an “isolated location” where he raped and sodomised her until she vomited.

The victim tendered a victim impact statement to the court which detailed how she had been “traumatised” both physically and emotionally by the attacks.

“The wounds heal but the scars, the memories, the nightmares and flashbacks never seem to go away,” she said.

“A small part of me died during that time … not only did you take away my innocence and ruin my life, you filled me with fear and took away trust.”

Geoffrey Rogers has been jailed for the “violent” rape of a woman who was underage at the time.

Defence Barrister Phil Hardcastle said his client was a hardworking businessman and employed 40 staff members with his drilling business.

Mr Hardcastle told the court Rogers had worked in the industries of cane farming, seafood and operating drilling rigs.

“Many people speak well of him but these matters stand in the road of that,” Mr Hardcastle said.

“Since being charged with these offences, he has lost many of his so-called friends and contacts.”

Mr Hardcastle said Rogers had been married for 39 years and had four children.

Judge Glen Cash described the offending as “violent” and “very serious to say the least”.

He sentenced Rogers to nine years’ prison with parole eligibility after four and a half years.