Rapist Thomas Hofer sentenced for assault after posting Facebook roommate ad

A convicted rapist who posted an ad for roommates for his Sydney apartment has been convicted for a creepy act against a woman who responded.

A convicted rapist kissed a 22-year-old woman against her will after she responded to a Facebook ad for roommates.

Thomas Hofer, 55, was sentenced to a 20-month community correction order for common assault on Thursday.

The assault happened four days before Christmas last year after the woman wrote to Hofer to inquire about his apartment ad, which said he was looking for a female roommate who could pay between $140 and $150 in weekly rent.

Police noted in court documents that the apartment only had one bed.

Sydney’s Downing Centre court heard he paid for the woman’s Uber to come see the Paddington flat, offered the woman vodka and coke and kissed her.

Parole officers immediately became suspicious when they saw Hofer with the woman. Picture: Monique Harmer/stock

The woman told police she had no recollection of kissing him and that she had not consented.

The following morning he was spotted with the woman by parole officers who contacted police.

Hofer had earlier been convicted for a string of rapes committed on the same night in 2014 against an American tourist who had also responded to an apartment ad.

He was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison for eight rapes against the woman, and three rapes against another woman, a teenager who had responded to the same ad.

His non-parole period expired on April 30 last year, just months before his next crime.

Parole officers raised the alarm after seeing Hofer in December with a young woman.

“Probation and parole officers have become concerned after seeing (the victim),” police wrote in a document tendered to the court.

“Given the accused’s parole conditions and the circumstances of his previous offending, the parole officers have decided to contact police.”

Police visited the apartment, where they interviewed both Hofer and the victim.

He initially told police there had been some “kissing” between himself and the victim, but “quickly” changed his story to say there had been a single “kiss on the balcony”.

“When asked if there was any touching, he stated, ‘not that I can recall’,” police wrote.

Police said Hofer and the victim had spent the night together in the same bed, fully clothed.

The conditions for Hofer’s community corrections order stated he must not commit any new offences, and to appear before court if he’s ever asked.

The order will expire on March 13, 2024.