Gregory John Richardson jailed for Epping sex attacks on girls, women
A tow truck driver who wore a pink bra and fluorescent yellow knickers while carrying out sex attacks on girls and young women has been jailed.
Police & Courts
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A sexual assault survivor burst into tears, another shook her head and a supporter stormed from the room yelling “bulls***” after a judge handed down a lingerie-wearing serial sex predator’s sentence on Friday.
Tow truck driver Gregory John Richardson, 53, was sentenced to at least seven years behind bars in the District Court for attacking four girls in the Epping area between 1989 and 2007.
His sentence was backdated taking into account his time already spent in custody, so he could walk free in five years.
Agreed facts reveal Richardson would prey on young women at night, attacking them from behind as they walked home and even threatened to kill one of them.
In one frightening attack, Richardson emerged from bushes and assaulted a 14-year-old schoolgirl walking home, before saying: “Don’t call the police or I will hurt you”.
In another bizarre instance, he wore a “shiny hot pink halter bikini top” and “fluorescent yellow knickers” when he attacked a young woman at the front door of her Hornsby home.
The victims are still haunted by the attacks to this day, experiencing nightmares and having flashbacks, according to impact statements.
The women, who were aged between 14 and 25 at the time, were supported in court on Friday by friends and family.
Richardson’s barrister Daniel McMahon told the court his client was ordered to wear women’s underwear and stockings while he was abused by his alcoholic father, which led to him developing mental health issues and committing horrific sex offences himself.
Forensic psychologist Stephen Woods told the court Richardson may have been experiencing psychosis at the time of the attacks.
Mr Woods said the symptoms Richardson claimed to have were consistent with PTSD, including hallucinating and hearing voices — in his case a “derogatory” male voice telling him to do violent things and calling him a “piece of shit”.
In handing down his judgment, District Court judge Peter Berman said “girls have the right to walk home without fear they would be set upon”.
“Why should women feel afraid to go out at night?” Mr Berman asked.
“Sadly, the offender too was the victim of sexual assaults of his father. He too has suffered long lasting effects as a result.
“His father forced him to wear stockings and other female attire which were ripped off him before he was raped and forced to commit oral sex.”
Richardson will be eligible for release in August 2025.
The cold case was solved in August 2018 when DNA evidence from his jailed brother linked Richardson to the crimes committed in a 2.5km radius from his family home.