Chelsea dad Stuart Barnes jailed for brutally raping young mother near Ferntree Gully station in 1983
A vile knife-wielding fiend who raped a young mother near Ferntree Gully station in 1983 — ruining her “entire life” — was living the good life in Chelsea thinking he’d gotten away with it until a DNA breakthrough.
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A young mother brutally raped and humiliated as she walked home from Ferntree Gully station has finally received justice.
The 18-year-old victim — who cannot be named — was attacked after hopping off a train from work just before 7pm on April 12 1983.
After more than 37 years on the run, Stuart Barnes, 52, was sentenced in the County Court on Friday to a minimum two years’ and six months’ jail after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of rape with aggravating circumstances.
The court heard Barnes blindfolded his victim with women’s underwear and brutally raped her by knifepoint not far from the home she shared with her partner and two-year-old son.
“I’ve seen you get off the train before and I know where you live or else I wouldn’t do this,” Barnes said.
Barnes walked his victim along the track then pulled her away to a nearby paddock.
“Tell me that you love me,” he said.
She begged Barnes to stop — even telling him she was a mother — but he kept his attack up.
Barnes asked his victim “what’s wrong” while she trembled “uncontrollably” with fear.
“If you be good I won’t hurt you,” Barnes said.
Barnes said he “just wanted an orgasm”.
He then finished raping his victim, humiliated her one last time, stole her handbag and fled.
The victim ran home but she was unable to talk so her partner looked for the attacker and reported the rape to police.
An investigation was undertaken and evidence was collected but a suspect could not be located.
In 2012, scientists carried out further tests on the victim’s clothing and a “full male DNA profile” was retrieved.
The profile was cross-checked on the national DNA database but nothing matched.
The process was repeated in April last year but this time investigators got lucky when a DNA hit linked Barnes to the rape.
Police arrested Barnes at his Chelsea home on July 24 last year.
Barnes told investigators he “knew what this is about” and “it’s been bothering me for years”.
Barnes, who wasn’t charged until October, claimed he didn’t use a knife and the underwear blindfold “didn’t ring a bell”.
The court heard several factors aggravated the rape including the threats, the pre-planning and he didn’t wear a condom.
The court heard Barnes held various jobs since the attack and raked up various criminal convictions for thefts, drug possession, stalking and making and possessing child pornography.
Barnes a father, grandfather and serial sex offender was a carer for his dad and now cares for his ex-partner.
The former Knox technical student claimed he feels “guilt and remorse” and hoped his arrest brought closure for his victim.
The victim said her “entire life fell apart” after Barnes raped her.
She said her relationship with her partner ended because of the rape and she turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with the pain and “ongoing” mental health issues.
The victim said she had suffered physical and mental abuse from subsequent partners due to her low self-esteem and had “lost all desire to live”.
She said she was estranged from her son and had never met her grandchild.
She has not had an intimate relationship in 16 years and there hasn’t been a day she hasn’t thought about the incident.
The victim said she felt ashamed, guilty and disgusted and would “take her own life today” was it not for her son.
Barnes'’s lawyer said a suspended jail sentence could be considered due to the length in time since the crime and Barnes’ age at the time.
However, Judge Susan Pullen said the crime was “too serious” to avoid an immediate jail term.
“I have no doubt she was (absolutely frightened) being dragged off the path and raped on her way home from work … absolutely terrifying,” Judge Pullen said.
The prosecution submitted Barnes had plenty of opportunity to confess but Judge Pullen said it was “unlikely” anyone would ever confess to such a crime.
Barnes was jailed for a maximum three years and 11 months.
If you or someone you know is struggling mentally and at risk of suicide call Lifeline on 13 11 14, headspace on 1800 650 890 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
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