Toowoomba man Renzo Ferrer jailed for raping drunk woman in Toowoomba CBD
A man brazenly raped a drunk woman in the middle of the Toowoomba CBD while she attempted to urinate, only to dismiss his disgusting crime as ‘just a joke’ when confronted.
A Darling Downs man who brazenly raped a drunk 18-year-old woman in the middle of the Toowoomba CBD during a night out has been jailed.
Renzo Ferrer, 28, pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the young woman at 2.30am near the Tatts Hotel, while she was attempting to urinate in a garden bed.
When Ferrer entered his pleas before the Toowoomba District Court on Wednesday, November 27, the court heard he sexually assaulted the woman in front of two other people, one of whom was his friend, who reported the matter to police.
The court heard Ferrer was out drinking with his male friend on a weekend in July 2024, when they randomly met the woman who was drinking with friends.
The court heard the groups separated at the end of the night when Ferrer’s friend suggested the woman get an Uber home because the complainant was drunk and sick.
However, the men walked back to the two women when they saw the woman urinating in a garden nearby.
The court heard while Ferrer’s friend blocked the public’s view of the woman, Ferrer whispered “you’re sexy” in her ear, before groping her buttocks and inserting one to two fingers inside her vagina.
Crown prosecutor Abby Kong said the woman immediately shot up and said, “he’s fingering me!”.
Despite the woman and Ferrer’s friend intervening, Ms Kong said Ferrer said it was just a joke while attempting to again reach for the woman’s genitalia.
Mr Kong said Ferrer’s friend told police that as they walked away, Ferrer made crude jokes about raping the woman, so he stayed with him to make sure he didn’t follow the girls home.
When police later interviewed Ferrer, he repeatedly told the officer he was just being silly and downplayed his actions.
Ms Kong said although Ferrer had no criminal history, the seriousness of his brazen crime and lack of remorse required actual time in custody.
Judge John Allen KC agreed with Ms Kong and told Ferrer his intoxication didn’t excuse his concerning behaviour.
Judge Allen sentenced Ferrer to a two-year jail term, to be released on a three-year suspended sentence, after serving four months behind bars.
More Coverage
Originally published as Toowoomba man Renzo Ferrer jailed for raping drunk woman in Toowoomba CBD
