Luke James Colless, known as the “bikeway rapist”, sentenced for attacking a woman, 23, in Coolum in 2006

A long-running cold case has been solved after a serial rapist was sentenced for attacking a Sunshine Coast woman on Coolum Beach in broad daylight. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

Luke James Colless was sentenced for raping a 23-year-old woman on Coolum Beach in 2006. Picture: Channel 10 news.

A chance sighting on a true crime TV show has unravelled a 15-year cold case mystery which has sparked an extended stay behind bars for a violent serial rapist.

During sentencing in Maroochydore District Court on Thursday, September 23, it was revealed a Sunshine Coast woman had spotted her attacker on a true crime TV show in 2018, prompting her to go to police.

The monster she identified was Luke James Colless, a father known as the “bikeway rapist” for a series of brazen attacks on 11 women in Brisbane and the Gold Coast between 2006-2008.

Colless attacked the women while they walked or jogged alone in public places, acting on fantasies relating to “consensual rapes”.

The court heard Colless would stalk the women, aged between 18 to 52, before tackling them to the ground and holding his hand over their mouth.

Five of the women were digitally raped by Colless who became known as the “bikeway rapist”.

Colless had been sentenced in 2009 to 19 years’ imprisonment for the bikeway rapes.

Judge Michael Byrne on Thursday sentenced Colless to a further two years in jail and pushed his parole eligibility date back nine months to February 1, 2023, for the rape of a then-23 year old woman in broad daylight at Coolum Beach in July, 2006.

Colless had originally denied any knowledge of the Coolum Beach attack but pleaded guilty to one count of rape on Thursday.

The court heard the attack had taken place about 9am when Colless tackled the young woman to the ground and raped her while she walked along Coolum Beach in her bikinis.

Crown Prosecutor Christopher Cook said Colless had walked past the woman when he ran back and tackled her to the ground before tearing her bikini top, tugging her bottoms and violently grabbing her left breast.

“(The woman) pushed Mr Colless away, tried to fight him off but he held her down,” Mr Cook said.

“She screamed ‘no, no way in hell’ repeatedly.”

Mr Cook said the woman “squirmed” while Colless pulled her bottoms to the side and forcibly inserted multiple fingers into her vagina five times before walking away.

The woman suffered scratches on her body including on her breast and bruises to her genitalia.

DNA testing was consequently done on the woman’s bikinis and Colless was charged in 2020.

Mr Cook said the rape of the Coolum woman revealed Colless’ offending was not isolated to Brisbane and the Gold Coast and was one of the most serious of his crimes.

“This crime represents one of many committed by Mr Colless who is a predatory serial rapist, he has a documented uncontrollable compulsion to violently attack and rape women in public places,” he said.

Mr Cook said Colless had a callous disregard for the dignity and welfare of the women he terrorised.

He said the Coolum rape was seriousness enough for Colless’ sentenced to be extended beyond the 19 years he was already serving.

He suggested a two to three-year prison sentence that delayed his parole eligibility date of May 2, 2022.

Defence barrister Stephen Zillman asked for any prison sentence to be concurrent, so Colless’ parole date was not changed.

He said the offence was not more serious than his other offences and didn’t warrant his sentence being extended.

“There are no endeavours to stop the breath of the victim, there was no threats made as there were in other cases and the violence wasn’t escalated as it was in some of the other cases,” he said.

Mr Zillman said he didn’t agree with the Crown’s submission that Colless was a risk to the community saying he had undertaken courses in prison to better himself and was a “model” prisoner.

Judge Michael Byrne said the offending warranted an extension of Colless’ sentence.

“Your conduct was life changing for this woman, she does not enjoy the same amenities of life she did prior to that morning,” he said.

“She does not see that she will recover.”