Man, 31, pleads guilty to rape, common assault at Cairns District Court

A man drove his victim to a secluded cane farm before threatening her with a knife and forcing her to commit sexual acts while calling her degrading names, a court has heard.

A man drove his victim to a secluded cane farm before threatening her with a knife and forcing her to commit sexual acts while calling her degrading names, a court has heard.

The defendant, who could not be named as it would identify his victim, pleaded guilty to one count of common assault, one count assault occasioning bodily harm, two counts of rape and one count of contravention of a domestic violence order in the Cairns District Court.

Crown prosecutor Emily Thambyah said the offending occurred when the defendant was 29.

Ms Thambyah said the couple had been in a relationship for some years but were in the process of breaking up.

“The offending occurred over three days in which the defendant inflicted violence upon her in a demeaning and really degrading way,” Ms Thambyah said.

A man has pleaded guilty to one count of common assault, one count assault occasioning bodily harm, two counts of rape and one count of contravention of a domestic violence order.

“The offending involved use of a weapon, a knife, and threats to actually use it and kill the complainant while forcing her to perform sexual acts on him and have sexual intercourse with him for nothing but his own sexual gratification.”

Ms Thambyah said he took the complainant to a secluded area.

“The cane was quite tall and it’s clear the car couldn’t be seen from the road and it’s there he committed the sexual acts on her forced her to suck his penis and have sex with him, while holding a knife in his hand and calling her degrading names like scum and filthy whore,” she said.

A man threatened his victim with a knife.

“He wasn’t wearing a condom, he was rough and caused the defendant pain.”

Ms Thambyah said later that night the complainant went and reported the matter to police, while she was there he called and said he was outside her house with a shotgun.

The court heard police didn’t find a shotgun only a knife.

Defence barrister Rachelle Logan said her client had a tough childhood.

The court heard the man forced the woman to have sex with him while he was holding a knife. Picture: Brendan Radke

“He was given an unfair start to his life when he was introduced to meth at the age of 12 to 13 by his own father,” she said.

“That has had the grip of him his whole life.

“At the time of the offending he was using – he had a significant habit of that particular drug. He understands he needs to attend a rehabilitation service.”

Ms Logan said the man had spent his time in custody doing courses and planned to work as a boilermaker upon his return.

The defendant took the time to plead his case to Judge Ian Dearden.

“I’m ashamed of what I’ve done, I fully accept my actions. It’s wrong of what I’ve done,” he said.

Judge Dearden gave strong advice to the defendant to do everything he could to turn his life around while in prison and went he gets out.

He sentenced him to seven years imprisonment with a parole eligibility of August 10, 2023 acknowledging 562 days already spent in custody.

Originally published as Man, 31, pleads guilty to rape, common assault at Cairns District Court