Bendigo sports club figure and public servant Luke Bennett, 42, exposed as vicious rapist

A well-known Bendigo man, senior public servant and “integral part” of several local sporting clubs has been exposed as a vicious rapist.

Bendigo man Luke Bennett, 41, was found guilty of a number of rape charges.

A well-known Bendigo sporting club figure and senior public servant found guilty of multiple rapes has told a court he is an “exceptionally good person”.

Strathfieldsaye man Luke Jordan Bennett, 42, was found guilty on multiple counts of rape at trial.

He was also found guilty of severe abuse and several assaults against the victim, including a terrifying incident that left her “scared for her life” after Bennett strangled and beat her.

Facing the County Court on Monday, Crown prosecutor David Cordy said Bennett faced a maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment after he inflicted “physical pain and emotional anguish” against the victim.

In a statement to the court the victim said the impact had left her “emotionally scarred” and stuck in a “constant loop of stress”.

Luke Bennett outside Bendigo Magistrates' Court.

“I’m a shell of who I used to be. It has changed the way I interact with people, my confidence and self esteem,” she said.

“I hope I may now be able to find some closure to all this to move forward.”

Defence barrister Lucien Richter conceded rape was “inherently serious” and Bennett’s actions were “appalling”, but argued for lenient sentencing, relying on Bennett’s good character in the community.

Bennett was most recently employed as a regional manager at Loddon Mallee Consumer Affairs.

He was formerly a senior public servant working as a manager at the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Vic Roads and the State Trustees over the years.

Bennett was also involved with a number of local sporting clubs over the 20 years he lived in Bendigo prior to his disgrace including: Mount Pleasant Football Club, Goornong Cricket Club, Bendigo Cricket Club, Marong Football Club, Emu Creek Cricket Club, Strathfieldsaye Football Club, Strathfieldsaye Cricket Club.

Bendigo man Luke Bennett was found guilty at trial of multiple counts of rape.

Mr Richter told the court Bennett’s family and supporters “think he is innocent” and Bennett “maintains his innocence”.

“He is not a psychopath, he is not a monster,” Mr Richter argued.

Mr Richter said the rapist was “in most conventional respects, an exceptionally good person”.

“He was a kind and loyal and generous man,” Mr Richter said.

“He contributed enormously off his own bat to his community via numerous organisations.

Bennett was an “integral part” of a number of sports organisations, coaching and mentoring a number of young people, Mr Richter said.

His lawyer said Bennett lived with depression and was “having a kind of early midlife crisis” at the time of the offending.

The defence raised the issue of delay, causing anxiety and stress to an accused as a proceeding hangs over their head.

Bennett’s lawyer blamed the victim for the delay because of the length of time it took her to report the matter to police.

Bennett remains behind bars ahead of his sentencing on July 31.