‘A tsunami demolishing my life’: Woman confronts rapist colleague in court

A married banker who sexually assaulted and raped a colleague during a party at his home will spend just three months behind bars for his deplorable crimes.

A woman who was sexually assaulted by a colleague has delivered a gut-wrenching victim impact statement in court, describing the “tsunami” effect it has had on her life.

The 33-year-old faced her attacker Benjamin William Baker, 32, in the Brisbane District Court revealing how her life had changed indefinitely since his “deplorable actions” at his Redlands Coast home on January 26, 2019.

She spoke of how she feels like a “ghost” in her workplace who is left constantly wondering “is my dress too tight, are my heels too high?”

“The ripple effect has been more of a tsunami demolishing my former life and those caught in it,” she said.

“All of the previously mentioned effects pale in comparison when I consider the precious time lost with my son … Half of his formative years, gone by with an anxious and depressed mother.”

Benjamin William Baker sentenced in Brisbane DIstrict Court for rape, sexual assault. Picture: Facebook

Baker, a former bank employee, faced court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and digital rape.

The court heard that Baker and his now ex-wife had invited work colleagues to their Thornlands home for drinking games when he groped the woman as she walked out of the bathroom.

Later that night the woman, who had prearranged to stay at the couple’s house, was in a spare room when Baker walked in, grabbed her breasts and forced his hands down her pants.

The court heard that as he digitally raped her she tried to resist him but Baker told her “this is what you need” and pulled her onto the bed removing his pants to expose his erect penis.

The court heard he only stopped when his wife burst into the room.

Barrister Robert Glenday told the court that Baker had gotten the “wrong idea” because he was heavily intoxicated and had later texted the woman to apologise.

“It was a situational offence,” Mr Glenday said.

“He was struggling with his marital relationship at the time, combined with the stresses and anxieties of that combined with too much alcohol.

“He’s not that sort of person at all and he completely regrets it.”

Mr Glenday said Baker should be given a suspended sentence citing his “exemplary” work history and his charity work volunteering with local football clubs.

“He’s a man of the community – he helps voluntarily down at the Redlands football club,” he said.

“This offence is totally out of character Your Honour and he can’t express how sorry he is for it.”

Judge Katherine McGinness acknowledged Baker’s mental health issues since his “fall from grace” but considered his actions too serious for him not to serve time in prison.

She accepted that it was totally out of character and he was unlikely to reoffend, but said Baker had preyed on a work colleague who was a guest in his home.

“This was indeed a serious lack of judgment on your behalf and the impact on the complainant is relevant and significant,” Judge McGinness said.

Baker was sentenced to two years’ jail for the rape, which will be suspended after he has served three months behind bars.

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During her victim impact statement, the woman said she had wanted to speak for sexual assault survivors who could not – despite her “heartache and pain of being dragged through the judicial system”.

“It seems in most part that the chips are against the victims and the teams who fight to obtain justice,” she said.

“I’m thankful in this instance I’m not one of the sexual assault statistics who never have their day in court. I was determined through all this pain to be the voice heard for those that couldn’t.”

*For 24-hour sexual violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or MensLine on 1800 600 636.