Thanh Phuong Nguyen jailed for assaulting girl, raping woman after night out at Salt nightclub
A man who was on the run from police after the sexual assault of two women, including a 17-year-old, outside a notorious South Yarra nightclub in 2003 has finally faced court, with details on how he avoided capture revealed.
Inner South
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A man raped a woman after sexually assaulting her 17-year-old friend outside a notorious South Yarra nightclub, a court has heard.
Thanh Phuong Nguyen, 50, was sentenced in the County Court on March 27 to a minimum three years and nine months after pleading guilty to rape and indecent assault.
Nguyen, who spent almost 15 years on the run, targeted his victims after drinking at Salt nightclub early on March 13, 2003.
Nguyen sexually assaulted his 17-year-old victim while she was in his car outside the trouble-plagued former Daly St venue.
The victim’s friend stopped Nguyen while he was trying to take the girl’s pants off.
Nguyen, his victims and another man then drove to China Bar in the city.
Nguyen dropped the man off then drove the victims – who were asleep on the back seat – to another location where he raped the 19-year-old woman.
The rape victim, who suffered severe physical injuries, reported Nguyen to police the next day.
Nguyen – who was known to the victims as “David” – wasn’t arrested until April 3, 2003.
He denied all wrongdoing when interviewed by police.
Nguyen was asked to give a DNA sample the next day but he never showed up.
He finally gave up his DNA on October 19, 2004, was charged on October 5, 2005 and failed to front court on November 15, 2005.
A warrant was issued for Nguyen’s arrest but he evaded capture until June 28, 2019.
Judge Michael Tinney said Nguyen had executed “a pretty clear plan”.
“It is inescapable that you drove the car away with a view to engaging in this unwanted sexual act,” he said.
Judge Tinney said justice had “been a long time coming” for Nguyen’s victims.
“These were two very young and vulnerable women,” he said.
“They were very badly used by you.
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“It was disgraceful conduct (and) you should be ashamed of yourself.”
Judge Tinney said attempts to locate Nguyen were hampered because he didn’t have a bank account “for many years”, didn’t obtain a driver’s licence and didn’t apply for Centrelink while on the run.
Nguyen – who had spent 273 days in custody – was jailed for a maximum six-and-a-half years.