Hyde Park rapist Joseph Rosenburg convicted after breaching Child Protection Act obligations

A high-risk sex offender who was on parole over the shocking rape of a teenager in Hyde Park was back in court after he hid a Facebook account – on which he followed child models – from police.

Hyde Park rapist Joseph Rosenburg was back in court.

A man who was jailed over the shocking rape of a disoriented teenager in Hyde Park, has been pictured for the first time after he was hauled before the court once again over a secret Facebook account he hid from police while on parole.

In 2015, Joseph Rosenburg, who is also known as Joseph Vozila, was jailed over the “predatory” and “opportunistic” rape of a disoriented teenage girl in Sydney’s Hyde Park.

The attack occurred in the early hours of August 30, 2013, when, after enjoying a night out with friends, the teen was chased into the park by Rosenburg who then anally and orally raped her.

A jury found Rosenburg guilty of three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three of indecent assault, and he was sentenced to a non-parole period of eight years and three months.

In 1993 when he was 29, Rosenburg was also convicted and sentenced for breaking into the bedroom of and sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl at Crows Nest.

Joseph Rosenburg leaves Downing Centre Local Court.

Now, 61-year-old Rosenburg has come before the court again, pleading guilty to one count of failing to comply with his reporting obligations under the Child Protection Act.

Agreed police facts reveal Rosenburg failed to tell police about a Facebook account, Instagram profile or email address he had created, despite being required to do so.

One of the Facebook pages identified in the police facts as having been liked by Rosenburg.

In June last year, officers attended Rosenburg’s house to carry out an inspection of his electronic devices, to which he consented .

When officers questioned the Waterloo man, Rosenburg denied using Facebook, stating he didn’t even know what it was.

Upon examining his mobile, police found the Facebook application logged into an account belonging to a Joe Vosila, which had been opened on February 29, agreed facts state.

Police observed the profile had “liked” various other pages, including ones named “CuteGirls_baby, junior idols” and one purporting to be a fan account for a child pageant contestant.

Another account police stated Rosenburg “liked”.

Some of the pages identified by police in the fact sheets, are still online and feature pictures and videos of female child models, it can be revealed.

Rosenburg initially said he had “no idea” about the account, before later confirming it belonged to him, along with an Instagram account and Gmail address which were also undeclared.

On Wednesday, Rosenburg told the court his supervisor had almost immediately deleted the Facebook app from his phone, stating “I don’t need it”.

Legal Aid solicitor Jessica Caligiore said Rosenburg was about to be under “the most strict form of supervision”, with an extended supervision order set to be finalised in the NSW Supreme Court tomorrow.

Hyde Park rapist Joseph Rosenburg failed several parole conditions.

Among the 53 conditions to be enforced on Rosenburg include electronic monitoring and unannounced visits from a supervising officer, Ms Caligiore told the court.

Ms Caligiore said the imminent order was “significant” in the context of Wednesday’s sentencing, and it should give the court confidence of Rosenburg’s future compliance.

Magistrate Susan McIntyre told Rosenburg while his offending was on the lower end of the scale, the authorities were still “alarmed, for good reason”.

“Unfortunately you are no stranger to proceedings like this, and understand the orders are taken seriously by police on behalf of the community,’’ she said.

“Your criminal history and this particular conviction does follow you for the rest of your life, the community expects people in your position to be closely monitored moving forward so other offences can be prevented.”

Ms McIntyre imposed a 12-month community correction order, taking into account Rosenburg’s early plea of guilty and the work he had been doing with psychologists.

His extended supervision order is set to be finalised in a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday.