Patrick Akauola: Rugby league player jailed for two rapes

A man who played A-grade for a number of well-known Brisbane rugby league clubs has been jailed after filming himself as he raped a woman while she slept.

A well-known A-grade rugby league footballer has been jailed for digitally raping a woman twice while she slept and recording the act.

Geebung man Patrick Akauola, 24, who played eight decorated years with Norths Devils, and a year with Whitsunday Brahmans, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to a raft of sexual offences.

They included two counts each of rape and making a recording in breach of privacy.

The court heard the offences occurred on various dates over an 11-month period.

Crown prosecutor Siobhan Harrison told the court harrowing details of the offending.

Both rapes consisted of Akauola filming himself digitally raping the woman while she slept.

“She was violated while she was sleeping (and it was filmed) for his own sexual gratification,” Ms Harrison said.

Patrick Akauola. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the victim reported the matter to police following conversations with her mother and a friend.

A pretext call was made to Akauola, who admitted the offending, telling his victim it was “immature” and he was intoxicated.

Ms Harrison, summarising the victim impact statement prepared for the court, said Akauola’s victim struggled to form new relationships, experienced anxiety and flashbacks and had isolated herself from friends and family.

Akauola had a minor criminal history prior to the current offending, the court heard, for which he had only received fines.

Defence solicitor Karl Brandon told the court his client “lacked an appropriate understanding of respect”.

“It was a product of immaturity,” Mr Brandon said.

Judge Katherine McGinness told the court she accepted Akauola was “genuinely remorseful” and noted he was attending a psychologist to deal with his alcohol and drug-abuse issues.

Akauola was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment, suspended after serving six months for an operational period of three years.

He was also placed on two years’ probation.