Bundaberg man pleads guilty to violent rape of girlfriend’s sister

A Qld man’s shocking sexual assault of his girlfriend’s sister at a birthday party has landed him in jail after he pleaded guilty to the crime only hours before he was set to stand trial.

A 27-year-old Bundaberg man has been sentenced after a violent rape of his partner’s younger sister. Design: Eliza Barr

A 27-year-old man has been exposed as a violent rapist after he preyed on his girlfriend’s younger sister while their family was celebrating a 40th birthday party at their home.

Published court documents reveal the Bundaberg man, who was 24 years old at the time, lived with his partner on her family’s property.

On the evening of April 14 2022, after a night celebrating his girlfriend’s stepfather’s 40th birthday, the man entered her 16-year-old sister’s room and began to rape her while she slept.

Her younger brother, whom she shared the room with, was in the bathroom of the home when the Bundaberg man entered.

The documents said the girl woke to find the man on top of her, with pants and underwear at her ankles, and her arms above her head.

He held her down as he raped her the court documents revealed.

Judge John Allen said in his sentencing remarks she tried to fight him off.

“She … repeatedly told you to get off and stop,” Judge Allen said

The violent ordeal “persisted for some time” before she was finally able to break free and get help.

Forensic tests done shortly after the violent assault revealed traces of the girl’s DNA on the man’s penis.

A witness statement submitted to the court detailed the “profound effects” the offence had on the 16-year-old girl and the rest of her family.

It was a “gross breach of trust” Mr Allen said.

While handing down his sentence Mr Allen said the 27-year-old, who now lived with his parents and worked part-time as a concreter, had no criminal history and a good employment history.

However Mr Allen also considered the fact man’s guilty plea came on the morning of what was expected to be a challenging trial for the victim and her family.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of rape with the circumstance of aggravation in a domestic setting on the after lengthy trial preparations, which included a thorough cross-examination of the 16-year-old girl, had already been finalised, the documents said.

Mr Allen said an earlier plea would have saved the girl from reliving the excruciating details of the night, and afforded the defendant an earlier parole date.

The 27-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison with a parole date set to October 6, 2027.

Two days were recorded as pre-sentence custody.

Originally published as Bundaberg man pleads guilty to violent rape of girlfriend’s sister