Brendan Holmes: Junee man sentenced for raping teenage girl

A man who, in his own words, was “off his guts” on ice and booze before raping a teenage girl pretending to sleep in her own bed has told the court he was “disgusted in himself”.

A man who, in his own words, was “off his guts” on ice and booze before raping a teenage girl pretending to sleep in her own bed has told the court he was “disgusted in himself”.

Brendan Holmes, 34, of Junee, appeared via video link at Wagga District Court to be sentenced after earlier entering a guilty plea to sexual intercourse without consent,

The court heard Holmes was a friend of one of the victim’s housemates and had been staying at the property for three days before the incident on March 14.

After consuming a number of alcoholic drinks and smoking ice Holmes went into the victim’s bedroom and said, “Hey, do you want to have some fun?”

At this time the 19-year-old woman pretended to be asleep and did not respond. Holmes then entered her room and began rubbing the victim’s breasts before raping the terrified teen and masturbating on her.

The victim was frozen in fear and did not say anything and continued to pretend she was asleep.

The court then heard Holmes, who was on parole at the time, used the victim’s own underwear to wipe the semen off her, before leaving the room.

The victim later told her boyfriend who encouraged her to contact her family and the police, and she was taken for testing to Wagga Base Hospital.

Wagga Wagga Court House. Picture: Michael Frogley

On March 15 Holmes was arrested and told police he believed the teenage girl was consenting.

The crown prosecutor said the victim was entitled to feel safe in her own home.

“In her own home, in her own bed, in the early hours of the morning, penile penetration and ejaculation have only increased the victim’s sense of violation,” the prosecutor said.

Judge Gordon Lerve said the victim impact statement detailed the emotional harm caused by the offence and the impact on the teenager.

“Mr Holmes has a number of matters in criminal history but this is by far the worst and most serious offence,” he said.

In a letter to the court, Holmes said: “I was off my guts on ice, I am disgusted with myself, I deserve to be punished lawfully.”

Judge Lerve did accept Holmes’ remorse and made a finding of special circumstances given his PTSD and a traumatic loss of his partner.

“Given the criminal history I couldn’t find on a balance he is unlikely to reoffend, however there is some glimmer of hope on the horizon,” he said.

“The letter and report from a doctor shows Mr Holmes has some insight in his actions and the need for rehabilitation.”

Holmes was convicted and sentenced to a three years and 11 months jail, with a non parole of 2 years and 8 months. He will be eligible for parole in November 2023.