Geelong’s sex offenders and their wicked crimes exposed
Victims have detailed the taxing effects of sexual violence, amid an increase in people accessing support locally. Warning: Graphic
Geelong
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The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre has seen a 17 per cent increase in clients accessing sexual assault counselling across the Barwon region in the past financial year.
Chief executive Helen Bolton said of these clients, more than one-third were seeking support for historic sexual violence trauma.
Victims of sexual violence have bravely spoken out about their experiences in court this year, with a judge describing offenders as “callous” and “degrading”.
One victim said she was “traumatised, unable to sleep” and was “terrified for her safety and her family”.
In a separate incident, a woman said: “I couldn’t pretend I was okay anymore, and I couldn’t live a life that was torture inside and a different face on the outside.”
“These crimes were not my fault,” she said.
“I lost me.”
A number of child sex offenders who have offended within the Geelong region have appeared in court.
Earlier this year, one brave victim spoke out about her abuse, and said at times she felt like dying, and not deserving of love.
“This will follow me for the rest of my life,” she said.
Despite Victoria recording over 14,000 sexual assault offences for the year ending June, the number of sexual assault offences recorded in Geelong decreased.
The state recorded 14,044 sexual assault offences for 2022-2023, reaching more than 14,000 for the second time since 2018.
However, in Geelong the number of sexual offences recorded decreased by 31 per cent.
For 2022-2023, the number of sexual assaults recorded in the region was 396, the lowest since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data in 2014 and down from 519 the year prior.
Ms Bolton said while the crime statistics may have decreased in Geelong this past financial year, a report by the Victorian Law Reform Commission highlighted that in Victoria, and around the world, sexual offences were under-reported.
Ms Bolton said a study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that around 87 per cent of women who had experienced sexual assault did not report to the police
She said these numbers were concerning and reflected that reporting was a complex decision influenced by a number of factors.
“Too often, our society sends the message that sexual violence is caused by the behaviour of a victim rather than the deliberate choices and actions of the offender,” Ms Bolton said.
“We should never blame a victim for what happened to them — sexual violence is an action that one person chooses to inflict harm on another”.
“Prevention of sexual violence requires many types of actions and initiatives including in our homes, workplaces, schools, clubs, and the media.
“Through education, advocacy and community development we can combat the issues of power, gender inequality and disrespect and encourage safe, healthy and respectful relationships,” she said.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact the organisation on 03 5222 4318 or reception@safvcentre.org.au for support in the Barwon region.
For support after hours, weekends and public holidays please contact the Sexual Assault Crisis Line (24 Hours) on 1800 806 292 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Geelong sex offenders
Shafiul Milky
An Ocean Grove doctor who raped and sexually assaulted six patients has was jailed for 14 years and six months.
County Court Judge Felicity Hampel said each of the victims had been profoundly affected by Milky’s offending.
Judge Hampel said the victims spoke of the fear and distress of potentially seeing him in their local area and felt shame and humiliation for not doing enough to complain about his actions.
Michael Kawana
Kawana, a former chef, was found guilty by a jury of rape, sexual assault by compelling touching and sexual assault.
Judge Frances Hogan said Kawana had treated his victim like a sex object.
“The conduct which the jury finds you guilty demonstrates your arrogance and serious lack of respect for the victim,” Judge Hogan said.
She described Kawana’s offending as brazen and said the victim had suffered significantly.
George Humphreys
Humphreys 42, was sentenced to 14 years behind bars after drugging, tying up and raping a woman during a camping trip.
The Geelong County Court heard the night-long ordeal happened just days before Humphreys was going to hand himself into police for stealing a car and pushing it into the ocean.
In sentencing, Judge Sandra Davis called his crimes “callous” and “degrading”.
Mario Didulica
Didulica was a serving policeman when he sexually assaulted a girl and begged her to move to France to be his “perfect wife”.
He was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria after he was found guilty by a jury in March of two charges of sexually penetrating a child.
The girl was aged 14 and 15 at the time of the offending.
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the victim said she suffered guilt and stress from Didulica’s offending.
Daniel Clifton
A Geelong cosplayer and Dragon Ball Z fan who groomed, sexually violated and raped a young girl he met at a skating rink was jailed last year.
Clifton was sentenced in the County Court to a minimum five year and 10 month jail term after he was found guilty of rape and multiple sexual penetration of a child under 16 charges.
Clifton, of Lara, sexually violated the 12-year-old child multiple times between February 2014 and February 2015.
Mark John Barnett
A school camp volunteer who indecently assaulted and exposed himself to Grade 6 boys fondled them in their dormitories at night.
The court heard Barnett was driving to the camp at Lovely Banks in April 1987 when he began to fondle the boys.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Kathleen Hewitt said: “He reached over with his left hand and began stroking (one boy’s) penis over the top of his clothing, and continuing driving while he removed his penis from his trousers and smirked at the (boys).”
David Kilner
Kilner was found guilty in the County Court on three charges of sexual assault of a child and one charge of sexual penetration.
During the course of the trial, crown prosecutor Danielle Guesdon told the court Kilner sent sexually suggestive messages to the female victim, which included photos of people in sex positions, and strange cartoon images.
Kilner called the victim “babe” and “darling” in text messages and also sent a message saying “I’m waiting for you, wish you were here”.
Throughout the trial, the court heard Kilner indecently assaulted the victim by touching her genitals, squeezing her buttocks and repeatedly pressing himself against her.
Luke Martin
A former teacher at Geelong High School sexually abused a student on multiple occasions, including in his own bed when his wife was away and their children were at home.
Luke Joseph Martin also exchanged more than 40,000 messages with the girl, most of them of a sexual nature.
Martin pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexually penetrating a child aged 16 or 17 as well as charges of being involved in the production of child abuse material and viewing child abuse material.
Marcus Stevens
Stevens supplied drugs to children and also sexually assaulted a child on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Stevens, of no fixed address, was sentenced in the County Court in Melbourne after he pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying a drug of dependence to a child and two charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.
Stevens was staying at a friend’s place when he committed the sexual assault.
Lawrence Basile
Basile was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to raping a female patient and massaging other parts of her body during an appointment to treat her significant musculoskeletal problems.
Judge Gerard Mullaly said Basile’s offending was “beyond comprehension” and that he “exploit(ed) the situation of a victim’s vulnerability”.
He also labelled the massage industry “surprisingly unregulated”.
“Your case is another example of why this branch of clinical therapy should be more regulated, so as to ensure professional standards are met, and patients, like the victim, are hopefully less likely to be sexually assaulted,” Judge Mullaly said.
satria.dyer-darmawan@news.com.au
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