Gold Coast teenager who raped sleeping woman ‘thought she wanted sex’

Family and friends of a Molendinar teenager gathered in a court room as he was sentenced to jail for raping a woman while she slept.

A Molendinar teenager raped a sleeping woman because he thought she wanted sex, a court has been told.

Yaspathu Peter Namok, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault in the Southport District Court on Tuesday.

In March 2021, Namok removed the woman’s pyjamas and underwear and raped her while she was sleeping on a sofa bed in a lounge room, the court was told. He was 18.

The victim watched Namok’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday via videolink.

She suffered bruising and abrasions from the assault and rape.

In her victim impact statement, she said retelling the details to police and family had been “traumatic” and it continued to impact her life.

The woman said the attack continued to have an impact on her.

The woman confronted Namok after being awakened from a deep sleep. He responded by saying “I thought you wanted to have sex”, the court was told.

“What part of me sleeping gave you the impression I wanted sex?” she replied.

The court was told Namok was “extremely intoxicated” that night, had no recollection of the rape, was remorseful and had limited his drinking to the occasional beer after work.

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

Namok’s twin brother, family members and friends were in court for sentencing, as were the victim’s parents.

“I just want to take this moment to apologise to my brothers, my twin, my uncle, my sisters and to the victim,” he told the court from the dock. “Yeah, that’s about it. Thank you.”

Judge Rowan Jackson noted Namok had no criminal history at the time of the offence.

“You’ve entered what the Crown accepts is an early plea and that’s an indication of your remorse,” Judge Jackson said.

“Also importantly in cases of this kind, it means a complainant doesn’t have to relive the events that occurred.”

He sentenced Namok to five and a half years’ jail with a parole eligibility date of March 18, 2024.

A conviction was recorded.

Namok waved to family and friends as he was led out of the dock.

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