Vaughan Hildebrand: Victims’ stories told as ex-cop faces court
The harrowing stories of the multiple victims of a rapist cop have been heard in court as the twisted 33-year-old faced a resentencing.
St George Shire Standard
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A vile ex-NSW Police officer who sexually abused and menaced more than a dozen women including vulnerable teens, fellow police officers, friends and girlfriends will be re-sentenced after a court found an error in his original punishment.
Vaughan Mark Hildebrand, now 33, has been in jail since 2017 for a sickening 11-year campaign of sexual abuse and extortion against 15 separate women.
Four victims – two of whom were only 16 – were sexually assaulted, and five female police officers, including one who was his sexual partner, were menaced during his reign of terror.
One woman was subject to a decade of torment after a brief relationship with Hildebrand which resulted in her being forced into public and private sex acts to prevent him distributing her naked images.
Hildebrand was a serving NSW Police officer during the latter years of his offending.
In September 2019 District Court Judge Robyn Tupman sentenced Hildebrand to 21 years’ imprisonment for his offences against victim BB, nine years for GH, 14 years for IJ and three years for OP along with shorter sentences for the other victims.
The head sentence of 47 years was deemed excessive and an aggregate sentence for all offences of 20 years was imposed, with a non-parole period of 15 years to expire on May 30 2032.
However, the District Court will have to resentence Hildebrand after the Court of Criminal Appeal found Judge Tupman had made an error in considering Commonwealth offences of using a carriage service to menace on a Form 1 instead of as separate offences.
Justices Anthony Payne, Jennifer Davies and Peter Garling delivered the shock verdict on February 15.
“The result must be that the applicant has not been sentenced according to law,” Justice Payne stated.
“It is not likely that the overall sentencing of the applicant will be significantly affected.”
The Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed a submission that Hildebrand’s sentence was “crushing” and would leave him with a “sense of hopelessness and destroy any expectation of a useful life after release”.
Hildebrand will be 43 when he becomes eligible for parole.
“Hildebrand deceived his victims and overbore their wills,” Justice Payne stated.
“His behaviour was coercive and predatory and it was all done for his sexual pleasure.”
The Court of Criminal Appeal has recommended that Judge Tupman undertake Hildebrand’s re-sentencing due to her familiarity with the “complex and most difficult” judgment.
Hildebrand gave no evidence throughout his original sentence hearing but a psychiatric report indicated he had a normal childhood with supportive parents.
The disgraced ex-cop told a psychiatrist he was exposed to significant stress in his career and was present in the early hours of the morning at the deadly Lindt cafe siege in 2014.
“The psychiatrist was of the opinion the offending was likely driven by sexual deviance,” Justice Payne stated.
“She said his sexual offending was marked by controlling and manipulative behaviour – there was considerable planning, but there was nothing about the sexual activities to indicate he was playing out any particular fantasy.”
Following his arrest in May 2017, police uncovered a ream of sexually explicit photos – including those of victims BB, MN, UV and ST – and several rounds of unauthorised ammunition in his car and home.
These are the stories of each of Hildebrand’s victims.
VICTIM 1: BB
Age: then 18, until she was 28
How they met: through mutual friends
The charges: sexual intercourse without consent
The crime: BB and Hildebrand were in an on-again, off-again relationship. Between 2007 and 2017, Hildebrand extorted BB by threatening to send naked images of her to her friends and family unless she engaged in sexual acts with him. On the first occasion in January 2007, Hildebrand pushed BB to the ground and forced her to fellate him at an Arncliffe golf course. For the next 10 years Hildebrand repeatedly forced BB to engage in oral sex at his Bardwell Valley home. Later, once Hildebrand became a serving NSW Police officer, he demanded sexual acts in exchange for assistance with BB’s brother who was facing criminal charges. Hildebrand also led BB to believe he could imperil her UK work visa if she did not continue to engage in sexual acts with him up until 2017. BB reported Hildebrand to police in March 2018.
When it occurred: 2007 until 2017
VICTIM 2: AB
Age: then 17
How they met: through AB’s brother
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: In February 2008, Hildebrand used multiple fake identities on MSN Messenger to try and extort AB for naked images. Hildebrand told AB he had naked photos of her and would distribute them unless she sent him more. In April 2008, AB and her boyfriend reported the threats to Kogarah police.
When it occurred: February 2008 until April 2008
VICTIM 3: CD
Age: unknown
How they met: through Victim EF, Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: In 2008, Victim EF was in a relationship with Hildebrand. CD and EF were close friends in high school. Hildebrand used several false identities on Facebook to make CD believe he had intimate images of her, and would distribute them or physically harm her if she did not send him more. Hildebrand – as himself – then purported to assist as an intermediary between CD and his own false Facebook identity to deal with the threats. CD and her boyfriend reported the matter to police in August 2010.
When it occurred: July 2010 to August 2010
VICTIM 4: EF
Age: unknown
How they met: they were in a relationship
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: Using a fake Facebook persona, Hildebrand began threatening Victim CD with harm or the distribution of her intimate images if she did not send him more. CD told her friend – EF, Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend – and EF enlisted Hildebrand’s assistance. When Hildebrand’s attempts to extort CD failed and she involved police, Hildebrand used another fake Facebook persona to threaten EF and her family if she did not make CD comply.
When it occurred: August 2010
VICTIM 5: GH
Age: then 16
How they met: through Elouera Surf Club, where they were both members
The charges: sexual intercourse without consent and using a carriage service to menace
The crime: GH’s family joined Elouera Surf Club, where Hildebrand was also a member. GH found Hildebrand “charming and complimentary” and by early 2008, she had exposed her naked body to Hildebrand during a game of truth or dare on MSN Messenger. He then exposed himself to her while masturbating. Hildebrand then intimidated GH using a variety of his fake MSN Messenger personas and revealed he had naked photos of her from their earlier webcam sessions. He then forced GH to give him oral sex on a public boardwalk through a mangrove forest in South Hurstville on two separate occasions. On a third occasion, one of Hildebrand’s fake personas told GH she had to have anal sex with Hildebrand at his Bardwell Valley home on camera or he would distribute earlier intimate images of her. She was injured during this act and bled.
When it occurred: throughout 2008
VICTIM 6: IJ
Age: then 16
How they met: through her relationship with AB’s younger brother. Hildebrand was friends with AB and her brother.
The charges: soliciting child abuse material, sexual intercourse without consent
The crime: IJ was a vulnerable young woman who began talking to Hildebrand on social media just after her 16th birthday. Hildebrand, posing as one of his fake personas, offered IJ a fake ID in exchange for a picture of her breasts. He screenshot the image and threatened to send it to her boyfriend, her school and her friends if she did not comply with his demands. Hildebrand’s fake persona told IJ she needed to give Hildebrand oral sex on camera to make the problem go away. IJ was then forced to give Hildebrand oral sex at his Bardwell Valley home. Hildebrand then sexually assaulted IJ three more times on the basis of his threats to tell her boyfriend and family if she did not comply. He contacted her no less than 3900 times from late June to early July 2010.
When it occurred: June to August 2010
VICTIM 7: KL
Age: then 16
How they met: through KL’s co-worker, Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend
The charges: soliciting child abuse material
The crime: Hildebrand became a NSW Police Force officer in December 2011. KL worked at a Marrickville store with Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend. KL told her friend she wanted to obtain a fake ID and the friend said her boyfriend – Hildebrand – could get her one. Hildebrand then posed as a fake persona who requested a photo of KL’s breasts in exchange for the fake ID. Despite her embarrassment, KL sent a topless photo to Hildebrand’s fake persona.
When it occurred: September 2012
VICTIM 8: MN
Age: unknown
How they met: through Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend, a fellow police officer
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: In November 2013 Hildebrand began dating a police officer. MN was the police officer’s sister and had developed an interest in undergoing breast augmentation surgery. Hildebrand posed as his own doctor friend to solicit images of MN’s breasts, purportedly to evaluate her for breast augmentation surgery. Hildebrand then repeatedly menaced MN using an identity he stole from police online systems and attempted to obtain sexually explicit photos of her.
When it occurred: July 2015 until October 2016
VICTIM 9: OP
Age: unknown
How they met: through dating app Blendr
The charges: using a carriage service to menace, sexual intercourse without consent
The crime: OP met Hildebrand through dating app Blendr in late 2012 or early 2013. They exchanged naked photos and occasionally had consensual sex. In March 2015 Hildebrand told OP he would pay her $2000 to expose her breasts and she did but was never paid any money. Hildebrand then used the identity he stole from police online systems to threaten OP with distributing her naked photos unless she paid him $4000. Hildebrand later used his own identity to threaten OP with sending naked photos of her to her family. She was forced to give him oral sex in exchange for deleting the photos of her.
When it occurred: late 2012 until September 2016
VICTIM 10: QR
Age: in her teens
How they met: they were in a relationship
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: Hildebrand and QR dated from 2004 until about September 2005. In February 2016 Hildebrand used the same stolen identity he used to menace MN and OP to threaten QR with claims he knew she was cheating on her boyfriend. QR told Hildebrand she did not appreciate being harassed and he stopped contacting her.
When it occurred: February 2016
VICTIM 11: ST
Age: unknown
How they met: they were police officers working together
The charges: using a carriage service to menace or harass
The crime: ST and Hildebrand both worked at a Sydney police station together. Hildebrand was then in a relationship with MN’s sister, who also worked with them as a police officer. Hildebrand used several fake identities to threaten to distribute naked photos of ST, who was genuinely concerned as she had sent naked photos to people in the past. Due to Hildebrand’s threats to disseminate naked photos of ST, she sent him five photos of her face and breasts exposed. Hildebrand’s fake persona then told ST he would only delete the photos if she sent him videos of her performing oral sex. She did not comply with the demand.
When it occurred: July to October 2016
VICTIM 12: WX
Age: unknown
How they met: she was a police officer and they met through work
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: Using a fake persona, Hildebrand falsely told WX on Snapchat that he had obtained naked photos of her from her ex-boyfriend. Hildebrand then told WX he had information about her current boyfriend dating other women while they had briefly been separated. WX then confided in Hildebrand, not knowing he was the person harassing her.
When it occurred: October 2016
VICTIM 13: UV
Age: unknown
How they met: she was a police officer and they met through work
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: UV knew Hildebrand through work, as well as his then-partner MN’s sister and ST. UV and Hildebrand became close after their involvement in the deadly Lindt cafe siege. They later commenced a sexual relationship, though unbeknownst to UV Hildebrand was still in a relationship with MN’s sister. In February 2015 their relationship ended. In November 2016 while her partner was away at a police training course, UV spoke briefly to Hildebrand and he later used multiple false Snapchat personas to threaten to disseminate photos of UV in her underwear.
When it occurred: November 2016
VICTIM 14: YZ
Age: unknown
How they met: she was a probationary constable and they met through work
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: YZ and Hildebrand lived in the same area and started driving to work together. Hildebrand used fake personas to attempt to obtain sexually explicit photos from her. He was not successful.
When it occurred: November 2016
VICTIM 15: AA
Age: unknown
How they met: through Hildebrand’s then-girlfriend, Victim EF
The charges: using a carriage service to menace
The crime: Hildebrand connected with AA on Snapchat years after they met through EF while EF and AA studied at university together. Hildebrand asked if AA was still interested in getting breast augmentation surgery and she confirmed that she was. Hildebrand then employed a similar ruse in which he claimed to have a doctor friend who needed photos for his before and after portfolio. He offered to act as an intermediary and send photos of her breasts to his doctor friend and AA ignored those messages. Hildebrand then used a fake persona and attempted to extort AA for naked photos after claiming he had received some from her ex-boyfriend and would distribute them. She did not comply with his demands.
When it occurred: late 2016
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