Two friends jailed for raping woman in caravan in 2016
Two Victorian men who took turns raping their friend in a caravan after she rejected their request for a threesome gave their supporters a thumbs-up in court today as a judge sentenced them to prison.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two men who took turns raping their friend in a caravan after she rejected their request for a threesome gave their supporters a thumbs-up as a judge sentenced them to prison.
Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull, both 24, were found guilty of raping the young woman at a 21st birthday party as she lay drunk on a bed on the night of April 2, 2016.
Bloomfield was sentenced to five years and eight months jail for two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He will be eligible for parole in three years and four months.
VEGAN ACTIVISTS GO FROM COURT TO FRONTLINE
ABORTION CLINIC ‘SAFE ZONES’ VALID
NORTH EAST LINK DESTRUCTION REVEALED
His mate, Merryfull, was handed a prison term of four years and 10 months for one count of rape, with a minimum of two years and 10 months.
In February a jury found the two men assaulted the victim after Merryfull suggested a threesome, which was immediately rejected by the woman.
“The victim said ‘no, no way’”, Judge Gerard Mullaly said.
“Each of you knew she was not consenting but you went ahead believing or hoping nothing would come of it,” Judge Mullaly said.
The court heard Merryfull told Bloomfield “she’s all yours” after he had finished raping her.
Judge Mullaly said this language was extremely troubling as it showed the men viewed the victim as “merely an object … to violate at your will”.
“She was entitled to feel safe,”
“To be sexually violated, raped by two men she trusted is a grave thing,” his honour told the court.
In a victim impact statement, the young woman said she had experienced long depressive episodes since the incident and no longer felt safe or welcome in her hometown.
“I have lost trust in everything,” her statement read.
Up to 50 supporters of the men packed to the courtroom after travelling from western Victoria to learn the pair’s fate.
At an earlier plea hearing, the court heard the men would be welcomed back to their community and football club once released from prison.
Judge Mullaly said he had considered both men’s young age, lack of criminal history and multiple good character references.
“It remains a grave step to send young men like you to jail but it is a heavy step I must take,” he said.
Bloomfield thanked the large crowd in the courtroom for their support and both men called out “I love you” as they were taken into custody.