Townsville rapist Tyrese Leonard George Wallace to be sentenced

A Rossville man convicted of two vile sex crimes who failed to show up in court last month for sentencing has been remanded and will learn his fate later this week.

FAR North Queensland man Tyrese Leonard George Wallace, who pleaded guilty in a Townsville court in March to two counts of rape, attempted rape, grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm will finally appear before court this week to learn his fate.

On Tuesday morning in Cairns District Court, Judge Dean Morzone QC presided via video link over the mention of 20-year-old Wallace who is in custody after failing to appear at a sentencing in Cairns District Court last month.

In court was Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crane while barrister James Sheridan appeared for Wallace.

Wallace who is being held in remand was not required to appear.

After consulting with Mr Sheridan and Mr Crane, Judge Morzone set the sentencing for Friday, June 10 at 11am.

Last month Wallace was due to be sentenced before Judge Dean Morzone, QC, but Mr Sheridan had to tell the court his client and his relatives had dropped out of contact in the past week.

Tyrese Leonard George Wallace who pleaded guilty in a Townsville court in March to two counts of rape, attempted rape, grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm will finally appear before Cairns District Court this week to learn his fate. Photo: Alison Paterson

At the time Mr Nathan Crane suggested the hearing be moved to Townsville, but Mr Sheridan said a condition of Wallace’s bail was that he was not to reside in Townsville.

Judge Morzone appeared via video link.

On March 4 a Townsville court heard that a 66-year-old woman was walking in a park in Townsville when she was dragged into the bushes and raped on September 30, 2020.

The woman was left bloodied and bruised after the random attack and taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Wallace is also charged with attacking a 51-year-old sex worker at a Rosslea home just hours before the rape.

The Townsville community was outraged the then teenager was released on bail shortly after the random attack.

Originally published as Townsville rapist Tyrese Leonard George Wallace to be sentenced