Violent rapist Christopher William Empey on the run, could be hiding in Mansfield bushland
A violent convicted sex offender who has spent 16 years in jail after bashing and raping a colleague is on the run in central Victoria, after emptying his safe and removing his tracking bracelet the day before a court appearance.
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A violent convicted sex offender is on the run in central Victoria, after emptying his safe and removing his tracking bracelet the day before a court appearance.
Police believe Christopher William Empey, who has spent the past 16 years in jail after raping and bashing a colleague, may be hiding in bushland around Mansfield.
The 46-year-old has significant bush survival skills and bought a new off-road motorbike this week.
CREEPS RIFE AT WORK BUT GO UNREPORTED
Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson said police became aware on Thursday that Empey’s GPS bracelet was deactivated.
Empey was last seen near Baddaginnie, southwest of Benalla and near his hometown of Maindample around 6pm.
Empey was due to front authorities on Friday, after his sentence lapsed in July.
He is now on a court-imposed post-sentence order.
Police say he took his passport and $10,000 from his safe, and used $2700 to buy a yellow 2005 Suzuki DR650 motorbike, with the registration GD531, on Thursday night.
In his sentencing, a Supreme Court judge described his vicious attack in 2002 on a woman after a company awards night as “the acts of a monster”.
After the rape, Empey walked off before returning to inflict more pain, stomping on his victim’s head in the 2002 assault in the stairwell of a Southbank apartment building.
He was married with two children at the time.
THE SINISTER METHODS SEXUAL PREDATORS ARE USING
Assistant Commissioner Paterson said police would be conducting an extensive search of bushland around Mansfield, and urged the public not to approach him.
“Mr Empey is considered a violent offender … When we talk about rape offences, they are horrific offences anyway, but this one involved unusually high levels of violence,” he said.
Anyone with information should phone triple-0.
