Warren McCorriston sentenced for historical sexual assault charges in Hunter
He was “smooth and attentive” on the surface but beneath, an abusive and violent predator that took advantage of vulnerable woman.
Newcastle
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The former Belmont man and hotels executive was known as “smooth and attentive”.
But little did his victims know, he was an abusive and violent predator, aggressive and controlling.
Warren John McCorriston, 60, went from stalking his first victim when she was just 17, to repeatedly raping and violently assaulting two other women.
The predatory behaviour reigning between 1980, when he was just a teenager himself, to 1999, only to be arrested more than 20 years later, extradited from Queensland in January last year.
He was slapped with 28 serious charges. He eventually pleaded guilty to five historical charges involving all three women, which included inflict actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with a victim, sexual assault inflict actual bodily harm, sexual assault knowing no consent given, maliciously inflict actual bodily harm and common assault.
In the NSW District Court on Friday, McCorriston looking emotional via video link as he was jailed for eight years and six months with a non-parole period of four years and six months.
With time already served, McCorriston will be eligible for release on July 7, 2024.
He also received a 12 month community corrections order (CCO).
Judge Mark Marien said McCorriston’s offences were “extreme and unprovoked”, which showed complete disregard for the innocent victims.
In summing up, Judge Marien told the court there was a repeated pattern of physical and sexual assault by the offender.
The court heard a psychologist report said McCorriston presented as a man with a life marred by sexual violence, a difficult upbringing, alcohol abuse and a negative attitude towards women where he felt a sexual entitlement.
Judge Marien said he did accept his remorse was “genuine”.
Revealed by The Newcastle News, McCorriston has also emerged as a key person of interest in two 40-year mysteries which had long been blamed on serial killer Ivan Milat.
Strike Force Arapaima charged McCorriston after they re-opened an investigation into the suspicious disappearances of Lake Macquarie teenagers Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson in 1979.
Police have now discarded Milat as a suspect, and the 60-year-old is one of the people they wish to ask questions about the 42-year-old suspicious disappearances of the two teenagers, who vanished within two weeks of each other.
No charges have yet been laid over the suspected deaths of the two teenagers.
Earlier
‘I was your prey’: Victim’s words to cold case rapist
On June 3, 2021
In a haunting statement, a woman who became one of three victims of predator and rapist Warren McCorriston said her “innocence and vulnerability would forever be tainted” by his actions.
“You were that predator and I was your prey. You took my freedom away,” the victim impact statement read.
“I was a young, innocent 17-year-old who had just started to venture out from the safety and security of my parent’s home.
“I was too naive to understand that society back then had held a dark side.”
The 60-year-old hotel executive and former Belmont man stalked his first victim when she was just 17, as he grabbed her from behind walking to the train station in Newcastle.
His infatuation with her persisted, weeks later McCorriston delivered a single red rose to her place of work before he tracked down where she lived, according to police facts.
It was then while she was at a concert with friends at Redhead beach, he grabbed her from behind in the water, as she kicked and struggled her bikini top came off and her breasts exposed. He eventually fled and she never saw him again.
“All this happened 40 years ago, but to me it feels like yesterday,” the statement continued.
“The admission of guilt by no means diminishes the effects those events had and will continue to have as I got on with life.”
In Newcastle District Court on Thursday, the cold case rapist offered his “most humble apology” to all three victims.
Calm and emotionless as he took the stand, McCorriston expressed he was regretful for his actions.
Remorseful of his predatory and abusive behaviour which began more than four decades ago when he was just a teenager.
“I’m remorseful, more so that it has impacted on them, they did not deserve to be treated in such a manner, I hope they can move on,” he told the court.
And directing to one victim in particular, a woman who he had repeatedly raped, he told the court he owed her so much.
“It is due to her that I ceased being a very immature man, a delinquent who was on a path to nowhere,” he said.
“Through her support it allowed me to find a career path and purpose in life.
“At the time I was under enormous pressure and wasn’t coping and I lent on her as a crutch in hard times without talking to her about my issues.”
McCorriston was extradited from Queensland in January last year and charged with 28 offences relating to the assaults and rape of three women in the Hunter between 1980 and 1999.
He pleaded guilty to five of those charges involving all three women, which included inflict actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with a victim, sexual assault inflict actual bodily harm, sexual assault knowing no consent given, maliciously inflict actual bodily harm and common assault.
The court heard of fresh allegations from three other women that had surfaced against McCorriston between 2015 and 2018, with whom he was in ongoing commercial relationships.
It included one of serious criminal conduct and an alleged sexual assault which took place overseas, and other allegations of “controlling” behaviours that he was rough in sexual activity.
All allegations were denied by McCorriston.
The Crown wanted the court to use those allegations to consider whether rehabilitation had occurred.
But Judge Mark Marien shot down the information citing they were “simply allegations”.
“We’re on different planets here, this may go to trial and be found not guilty. What am I supposed to do with them now in sentencing.” Judge Marien said.
Police facts said McCorriston’s second victim was in 1981. After initially being “smooth and attentive” he began to become violent and aggressive against the woman.
Police facts detailed how McCorriston would rape her on numerous occasions, forcing himself on her as she tried to scream and fight him off.
The third victim he met at a disco at the Gosford Bowling Club. Things turned toxic and he would forcibly have sex with her and assault her on numerous occasions.
In January last year, McCorriston was arrested at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast by Strike Force Arapaima.
Of the 28 charges against McCorriston, 17 were dismissed, including a charge of detain for advantage where police allege McCorriston abducted a 10-year-old girl from her mother in 1979 at Blacksmiths has been dropped.
The hospitality professional, worked at some of Queensland’s premier hotels including Mantra Legends Hotel and Daydream Island Resort and Spa as well as Sydney’s Star City.
McCorriston will be sentenced later this month.
EARLIER:
Fresh allegations won’t be heard in rapist sentencing
On May 21, 2021
A court has heard fresh allegations from three women had surfaced against a former Belmont man, before he was about to be sentenced over historical sexual and serious assault charges.
Warren John McCorriston, 60, was extradited from Queensland in January last year and charged with 28 offences relating to the assaults and rape of three women in the Hunter between 1980 and 1999.
He pleaded guilty to five of those charges involving all three women, which included inflict actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with a victim, sexual assault inflict actual bodily harm, sexual assault knowing no consent given, maliciously inflict actual bodily harm and common assault.
In Newcastle District Court on Friday, Judge Christopher Hoy SC listened to an argument by both parties as to whether evidence of the further allegations against McCorriston, should be admissible as part of sentence proceedings.
The court heard the allegations related to three NSW woman from 2015 to 2018, which included one of serious criminal conduct against one of the women, while the other allegations were about McCorriston’s behaviour and that he was “controlling” in nature.
Crown Prosecutor Hamish Fitzharding told Judge Hoy it would not be used against the accused, more so for the court to use to consider whether rehabilitation by McCorriston had occurred.
“The tender of material is relevant to the character of the offender, including whether he has rehabilitated himself in the intervening period,” Mr Fitzharding said.
“Last offending behaviour occurred in 1997 to 1999, there’s been no other conviction since that time.
“This material has some bearings on the findings court will make on his rehabilitation.”
But McCorriston’s defence barrister Paul Rosser QC objected to the new evidence being allowed.
“This is greatly unfair, to deal with unsubstantiated report of allegations,” he said.
But after breaking for lunch both parties came to a resolution, with the Crown agreeing to exclude details of the fresh allegations in sentence proceedings going forward.
He’ll be sentenced next month.
Police facts laid out McCorriston’s predatory and abusive behaviour began more than four decades ago when he was just a teenager.
His first victim was just 17 when he stalked and grabbed her from behind walking to the train station in Newcastle and on another occasion grabbed her while she was at Red Head beach with friends, causing her bikini top to come off.
The second victim a year later in 1981 was a woman he started dating, and after initially being “smooth and attentive” began to become violent.
Police facts detailed how McCorriston would rape his girlfriend on numerous occasions, forcing himself on her as she tried to fight him off.
The third victim he met at a disco at the Gosford Bowling Club and after the pair entered into a relationship, things turned toxic and he would forcibly have sex with her and assault her on numerous occasions.
In January last year, McCorriston was arrested on the Gold Coast.
Of the 28 charges against McCorriston, 17 were dismissed, including a charge of detain for advantage where police allege McCorriston abducted a 10-year-old girl from her mother in 1979 at Blacksmiths has been dropped.
The hospitality professional, who worked at some of Queensland’s premier hotels including Mantra Legends Hotel and Daydream Island Resort and Spa as well as Sydney’s Star City, was arrested at Surfers Paradise by Strike Force Arapaima in January.
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