Melbourne rapist prowler Karl Bacash guilty after hunting victim outside Corner Hotel: Court

A “good Samaritan” rapist who claimed he drove intoxicated girls home snatched a victim from outside Richmond’s Corner Hotel.

Former travel agent Karl Bacash was jailed after he raped a woman he picked up outside Melbourne pub The Corner Hotel Richmond.

A Melbourne predator who raped a woman after snaring her from outside Richmond’s Corner Hotel has been jailed.

Karl Bacash, 60, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a minimum four-year and 10-month jail term after he was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a woman.

Bacash, who claimed he picked up women from nightclubs and bars, snatched up a young woman from the Swan St live music institution in early-2017.

Bacash drove the victim towards Noble Park, pulled over on a service road off the Princes Hwy and raped and sexually assaulted her.

The victim, who was asleep in the passenger seat, woke to find Bacash digitally penetrating her.

Bacash then got out of the car, entered the passenger seat and raped her.

The grub also sexually assaulted her as he masturbated.

Bacash then drove the victim home where she asked “are you an Uber driver” to which he replied “no”.

Bacash got his victim’s phone number as he dropped her home, and in the ensuing weeks proceeded to text and call her, to which the victim never responded before she eventually blocked him.

The victim initially was too scared to go to the police, but on 26 February, 2020, Bacash was arrested and quizzed by police.

Bacash, of Bulleen, told police he was a “good Samaritan” who picked up drunk women and got them home safely, the court heard.

Rapist Karl Bacash prowled for women outside Melbourne bars and venues.

A month later, on March 21 the victim identified Bacash on a photo board, before police raided his home on May 11, 2020.

Prosecutor Madeleine Sargent told the court Bacash “drove around Melbourne meeting women at nightclubs and bars” where he would record their number and text them later.

The victim read her impact statement to the court last Friday, where she spoke about being depressed and anxious since the “horrible assault”.

At one stage she said she wished she was not even alive, and suffered from chronic back and neck pain.

The woman has not been able to date or enter any romantic relationships due to the rape.

“I am now 33, and I am too scared to get into a relationship,” she said.

She had planned to study for a doctorate of medicine at Melbourne University, but her grades suffered as a result of the trauma she went through and did not get in.

She also suffered a large financial burden as a result of the psychologist, physio and osteopath appointments needed for her mental and physical health, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Ashley Halphen told the court Bacash had no prior criminal history and was a teetotaller who had never drunk, gambled or used drugs.

The court heard Bacash was a travel agent for 39 years before he took up the sole daily care of his ailing and elderly mother.

“His major focus is the wellbeing of his mother,” Mr Halphen said.

The court heard a report found Bacash’s risk of reoffending was low.

Mr Halphen said Bacash’s prospects of rehabilitation were “good”.

Ms Sargent said Bacash “created an environment” where he could offend against her and said his moral culpability was high.

Ms Sargent said he took advantage of his victim’s state of intoxication, and said “young women have a right to go out and not be preyed upon”.

Bacash also pleaded guilty to possessing morphine and possessing stolen goods, namely an ANZ card belonging to a woman he had taken home on another occasion.

Bacash was jailed for a maximum seven years.