Victoria Police offer $500k reward to help find Burnley rapist dubbed ‘worse than an animal’

A woman whose horrific rape put her in intensive care for two months died knowing that her attacker, dubbed “worse than an animal”, was still out there.

The family of a rape survivor, who died knowing her attacker was still out there, is hoping a massive reward will catch the “mongrel” who brutally assaulted her more than three decades ago.

Sexual Crimes Squad detectives today announced a $500,000 reward for information, hoping the hefty sum could be the key to solving the serious 1985 sexual assault.

The female victim, aged 69 at the time, was asleep alone in her Melbourne apartment when an unknown man slipped through one of her windows on May 27, 1985.

The man gained entry to the property, in the east Melbourne suburb of Burnley, just after 2am, startling the woman awake.

Once inside her Adam St home, the man threatened her with a knife before seriously physically and sexually assaulted her in a terrifying and prolonged attack.

Police at the woman’s Adam St home in 1985.

The woman was left fighting for her life and in need of surgery and spent eight weeks in intensive care.

She was left with broken ribs, deep knife cuts behind each ear, a broken nose and severe internal injures, that were operated on the day after the attack, according to media reports at the time.

She was unconscious her first two weeks in hospital and it took her weeks to be able to talk again, due to the swelling around her neck.

The woman spoke to The Herald Sun from her hospital bed in the hopes her story would help police find her attacker.

“I don’t want him doing this to anyone else — he could easily kill,” she said.

“I thought I was going to die … I can’t walk yet and I’m frightened that I’ll become an invalid confined to four walls.”

The woman, dubbed “Elsie”, said she was worried the man would find her.

The offender was described by the victim at the time as having blonde hair and blue eyes.

Despite the incident receiving significant media coverage back in 1985, and police making a number of appeals over the years, detectives have not been able to bring anyone to justice.

Officer in Charge of Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes Squad, Detective Inspector Juliann Goldrick, said police are hopeful that today’s appeal could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

“Experience has shown us with cases like this that a lot can change over time,” she said.

“There were a number of calls from people with information at the time and we are appealing for those people to contact us again.

“Our investigators haven’t given up on the possibility on solving this case, but we really need the community’s help.”

Insp. Goldrick said the police who investigated the attack in 1985 still remembered it in “vivid detail”.

“The original investigators for the incident all recall this incident in vivid detail due to the nature of it. They are forever hopeful of finding the person responsible,” she said.

“If you know anything about this incident, then now is the time for you to come forward and speak to us.

“This was a violent attack on one of the most vulnerable members of our community and we are hopeful of finally being able to give the family some answers and hold the perpetrator to account.”

Sexual Crime Squad Detective Inspector Juliann Goldrick hopes the reward will help them find the rapist.

Police at the time described the rapist as “worse than an animal”.

“I wouldn’t even call this person an animal — I love cats and dogs and I wouldn’t degrade an animal by associating them with this man,” Commander Phil Bennett said in May 1985.

“It sickens me that there are people in there community who will stoop to this act.”

The victim’s daughter, who did not want to be named in today’s appeal, was left traumatised after seeing the pain her mother lived with after the attack.

The daughter, who was 42 at the time and is now aged 77, also had to be sedated for a week following the attack and has needed professional help over the years.

“I want whoever is responsible to take ownership of what they have done. I want them to front up. I just want police to get the mongrels. It destroyed her life after that and she was never the same,” she said.

“My mother may no longer be here but the monster who did this to her needs to be held accountable for the pain he caused her, both physically and emotionally.

“I just hope someone can provide the crucial piece of information police need to solve this for our mum so she can rest in peace.”

The $500,000 reward is paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner of Police for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for the sexual assault.

“In appropriate cases, the Director of Public Prosecutions may consider, according to established guidelines, the granting of indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders in this matter,” Victoria Police said.

“Any payment of a reward will be subject to the applicant signing a deed of confidentiality prior to payment.”