Peter Raymond Grassi sentenced in Townsville District Court for grooming and raping a 13-year-old girl

A handyman had only been released from prison for a short time before he began preying on another child and gaining her trust through a twisted plan.

Peter Raymond Grassi, was sentenced in Townsville District Court for the rape of a 13-year-old girl

A handyman who concocted a twisted plan to get a 13-year-old girl to trust him has learnt his fate in court after he raped her multiple times.

Peter Raymond Grassi appeared in Townsville District Court on Wednesday after he raped a young girl on multiple occasions.

The court heard Grassi spent more than $2,100 on books, toys and beauty appointments in an effort to groom the girl and asked for what he labelled as “gratitude” in return.

“Gratitude started as hugs and kisses on the cheek and playing tackling games,” Judge Gregory Lynham said.

“It soon increased to more inappropriate touching.”

When the girl turned 13 years old, the grooming and inappropriate behaviour escalated.

On one occasion after he demanded a hug for “gratitude” for a gift, he touched her chest and on another he rubbed her vagina through her pants.

“(She) recounted other times you towered over her … and asked her for gratitude,” Judge Lynham said.

In early 2024, the 46-year-old raped the girl using his fingers on three separate occasions over the course of five days.

A day after the last offence, the 13-year-old told her mum what had happened and police were contacted.

When police interviewed Grassi he denied ever sexually assaulting the 13-year-old and said she had made it up.

“It’s obvious by your pleas of guilty that you no longer maintain that version of events,” Judge Lynham said.

Grassi was serving a suspended sentence during this time for offences in 2021, when he groomed two teenage girls under the age of 16.

He attempted to begin a sexual relationship with one of the girls, and attempted to kiss the other.

For those offences he was sentenced to 21 months jail, suspended after serving six months.

Judge Lynham said during that previous sentence it was obvious the submissions made by Grassi’s lawyer were false.

“The submission that had been made that you avoided circumstances in which you had interactions with minors, given the events that subsequently occurred, clearly was totally untrue,” he said.

“In six months of being released from custody – having served the six month penalty in prison – you embark on your grooming offending against the (girl) which I am now sentencing you for.”

Grassi pleaded guilty to grooming a child under the age of 16, indecent treatment of a child under 16, rape and failing to comply with reporting obligations.

For his offences he was sentenced to four years and nine months in jail.

His 15 month suspended sentence was activated, taking his total sentence to six years jail with a parole eligibility date set for April 10, 2026.

The 434 days spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.

Originally published as Peter Raymond Grassi sentenced in Townsville District Court for grooming and raping a 13-year-old girl