Woman left ‘shattered’ by vile sexual assault in bayside
A woman’s quick-thinking decision has helped bring a 40-year-old man to justice after he sexually assaulted her in Brisbane’s bayside.
Redlands Coast
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A woman who was sexually assaulted by a stranger who offered to drive her home after a night out has told a court she was left “shattered” by the ordeal.
Paul Robert Ison, 40, of Capalaba, stopped and offered a lift to the woman who was lost in the bayside after a night drinking at a house party in Wynnum, the Brisbane District Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutor Steven Dickson said the woman’s phone had gone flat and she was unable to get a taxi or Uber when she got into the car with Ison who touched her thigh, then put his hand down her underpants.
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“He smelled his fingers and said words to the effect of ‘I enjoy the smell of you’,” Mr Dickson said.
The court heard that when Ison stopped at McDonald’s Capalaba, the woman made a quick decision to grab his ID as she left the car before he sexually assaulted her again.
He pushed her against his car, pulling down her shorts and underwear and thrust against her.
Mr Dickson said the woman was left shattered by the assault but was ready to move on with her life.
Ison was due to face trial yesterday morning but instead he pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault committed against the woman on November 25, 2018.
The court heard Ison was on a suspended sentence at the time and had a history or unlawful stalking and breaching domestic violence orders.
Barrister Simon Lewis said Ison had struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues but had not reoffended since the assault two years ago.
Judge Nathan Jarro said Ison’s behaviour was predatory and he had treated the vulnerable woman “like an object”.
“Young women are entitled to go out and be safe and not be preyed upon,” he said.
“People like you deserve contempt by the community and must face the full impact not only as punishment but also to deter you and others from such vile conduct.”
Ison was sentenced to 18 months’ jail suspended immediately and operational for three years.
He had already spent more than seven months behind bars on remand.
*For 24-hour support phone Queensland’s DVConnect on 1800 811 811 or MensLine on 1800 600 636, NSW’s Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463 or the national hotline 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).