Wadeye man sentenced for raping woman, breaching DVO and suspended sentence

After breaking 10 domestic violence orders and breaching bail three times, a Wadeye man has been jailed for raping a woman in her home.

After breaking 10 domestic violence orders, the man entered a protected person’s home and raped her. Picture: Jason Walls

After breaking 10 domestic violence orders and breaching bail three times, a Wadeye man has been jailed after entering the home of a protected person and raping her.

The man, who this publication has chosen not to name to protect the woman’s identity, was sentenced for sexual intercourse without consent and contravening a domestic violence order.

On the morning of October 26, 2023 in Wadeye, the man entered the home of the victim, who had a domestic violence order against him.

He demanded she perform oral sex on him, to which the woman said “No, I don’t want to”.

He then proceeded to sexually assault her, despite her repeating “no”.

A short time later, a health practitioner, who was scheduled to deliver medication to the woman, arrived at the residence.

The woman asked the practitioner to call police, however, by the time authorities arrived, the man had fled.

He was found the next month and arrested.

In the NT Supreme Court, the court heard conditions of the DVO prohibited the man from contacting the woman, entering where she was living and causing harm to her.

Generic Imagery of Supreme Court. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

It was heard the man had contravened a DVO 10 times prior to the rape, breached bail three times and a suspended sentence.

Through a victim impact statement, the woman said she suffered from “emotional pain as well as physical pain” and that her offender’s actions “caused her big shame.”

The man’s lawyer said his client understood “the relationship is over”.

“He wants to move many hundreds of kilometres away from the victim,” he said.

It was also heard his client had been subjected to violence and substance abuse growing up.

Justice John Burns said the offender was a “danger to the community”.

“In my opinion, nothing less than substantial terms of imprisonment will satisfy the requirements of sentencing in this case,” he said.

The man was sentenced to eight years, six months jail, backdated to November 9, 2023.

A non-parole period of five years, eight months was imposed.

Originally published as Wadeye man sentenced for raping woman, breaching DVO and suspended sentence