Peter Rogan: Gold Coast man jailed for sexual assault

A Gold Coast man preyed on a woman more than a decade his junior at the conclusion of a party, a court has heard.

A Gold Coast man sexually assaulted a woman more than 10 years his junior at the conclusion of a party, brazenly continuing with the assault despite his victim telling him, “Don’t do this to (your wife)”.

Palm Beach man Peter Rogan, 37, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Friday to a single count of sexual assault.

The court heard the offence occurred on July 19 last year inside a Woolloongabba apartment.

At the conclusion of a party, Rogan and his victim went to sleep on neighbouring pullout beds in the loungeroom.

As the victim attempted to sleep, Rogan grabbed her hand and persistently beckoned her to “come here” to his pullout.

Palm beach man Peter Rogan, 37. Picture: Facebook

She declined and said “goodnight”, but a short while later he moved himself over to her bed.

There, “straddling” the woman by sitting on top of her, thereby “overpowering her”, Rogan sexually assaulted his victim in a variety of ways, including by licking her face and neck and other acts too graphic to report on.

At one point during the assault, his victim, aged in her early twenties, told him, “Don’t do this to (your wife)”.

She repeatedly told him to stop, before eventually screaming, “Don’t!” which roused other people in the apartment.

A criminal complaint was made later that day.

Police analysis uncovered Rogan’s DNA on the outside of his victim’s underwear.

The court heard Rogan contacted a mutual friend in a wheedling attempt to get his victim to retract her complaint.

Rogan’s victim continued to undergo psychology, the court was told.

Rogan had no prior criminal history.

Defence counsel Malcolm Harrison told the court his client was intoxicated and couldn’t remember the offending – Rogan told a mutual friend the last thing he could remember was performing the “worm” i.e. a dance move, the court heard.

Mr Harrison tendered a psychological report which indicated UK-born Rogan, who emigrated to Australia in 2015, had a new “self-awareness” of himself following his offending.

Mr Harrison noted his client had a good work history, was currently employed with an internet technology consultancy, and had a new, supportive partner who provided a character reference.

Judge Brad Farr SC said a sentence which did not see Rogan spend actual time in custody would weigh too heavily in favour of Rogan’s rehabilitation to the detriment of the terrible lasting effects on his victim.

Rogan was ordered to serve two months of a 12-month head sentence, with the rest being suspended for 10 months.

He was also ordered to pay $2000 compensation to his victim.