Laithan David Joseph, 24, from Underwood in Beenleigh Court for rape, sexual assault in company

A young, recently married Logan father of two has been jailed for the horrendous alleged gang rape of a woman with his friend as the victim bravely shared her powerful journey of survival. WARNING: GRAPHIC

Laithan David Joseph. Picture: Facebook

A young, recently married Logan father of two has been jailed for the horrendous gang rape of a woman with his friend as the victim bravely shared her powerful journey of survival.

On an evening in June, 2021, Laithan David Joseph was drinking and taking MDMA with a woman and his friend in Logan, Beenleigh District Court heard on Friday, October 26.

She went to lay down in bed at the end of the night and the 24-year-old Underwood man asked her if she wanted to have a threesome with him and his friend.

The woman thought he was joking and refused.

Joseph and the other man allegedly continued to pressure her, took her top off and started to touch her breasts.

They then allegedly took turns raping her vaginally and orally on the bed while she shook her head towards Joseph, pleading with him to stop.

In a victim impact statement which she read out to the court, through tears and anguish, the woman shared the trauma of the abuse.

“Words are not enough to encapsulate the detrimental impacts this assault has left on my life,” she said.

“I was only young and saw the world through rose-coloured glasses. I was optimistic, happy and had a strong sense of self-confidence and independence.

“My stern requests for them to stop were met with indifference and ruthlessness as they carried out their malicious act against my will.

“I never thought I’d have to figure out how to live after being raped, my rose-coloured glasses are now jaded and my entire world has been shattered.”

The victim said she developed an eating disorder and changed her appearance as a result of the attack.

“I constantly felt dirty, wouldn’t eat for days and my disorder completely took over my life. I wouldn’t leave my house and was left with no sense of safety.

“My right to choose and my right to my own body was forcibly taken away from me.”

Joseph pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault in company.

The co-accused had not been sentenced and his matters were listed for trial.

The court heard Joseph had no prior criminal history.

Judge Deborah Holliday said the violent behaviour was extremely concerning and needed to be punished by the courts.

“There was manipulation, emotional pressure to the victim and her unwillingness was very clear,” she said.

“It was protracted, serious offending and Mr Joseph was responsible as a party to the offending of the other man.”

Joseph was sentenced to five and a half years prison and will be eligible for parole two days before Christmas next year, December 23, 2024.