Rhyse William Goodland found guilty in Brisbane District Court of raping woman

A Sunshine Coast man with a history of indecently assaulting women lasted only eight months in the community when he took advantage of a woman after a night out.

Rhyse William Goodland was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court.

A court has heard how a rape victim lay “silent and motionless” while a former arborist took advantage of her after a night out, despite him spending time in jail for similar crimes against women.

Rhyse William Goodland had a history of sexual offences when he took advantage of the victim which led to him being found guilty at trial of two counts of rape in the Brisbane District Court.

In sentencing remarks published on Friday, Judge Vicki Loury KC told the court Goodland and the woman caught up for drinks on August 19, 2023.

Later that night the pair went to bed in separate places however the victim made her way into the 33-year-old’s bed. It was accepted she was too drunk to know Goodland was there.

“She woke to you raping her quite forcefully, holding her down by the neck to overcome resistance,” Judge Loury said.

Court documents state after Goodland was finished she put her pants and underwear on and passed out.

When she woke up again, the former arborist raped her again while she was “silent and motionless”.

Rhyse William Goodland. Picture: Social media

The victim told a friend later that day.

What was of concern for Judge Loury was Goodland’s criminal history which included previous guilty pleas to two counts of sexual assault in 2022.

This involved Goodland assaulting a woman at a party where he walked into her room while she was asleep.

He woke her up and asked if he could perform a sexual act on her which she said no. Goodland pulled her blanket back and touched her without her consent.

The 33-year-old returned and asked for sex. She said for him to get out however he hugged her and indecently touched her again.

He was jailed for 12 months, to be suspended after serving four months in actual custody.

Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law – which houses Brisbane Supreme Court and Brisbane District Court.

Judge Loury said these rapes occurred only eight months after Goodland was released from jail.

Defence submissions revealed Goodland, a father of three who grew up on the Sunshine Coast, worked as an arborist and in the horticulture industry.

The court was told Goodland engaged in programs while on remand, including rehabilitation for drug abuse.

Judge Loury however emphasised the profound effect the sexual attacks had on the victim, who described having an ongoing and overwhelming sense of fear and lack of safety around men.

The District Court Judge said the protection of women in the community from Goodland was “paramount” while personal deterrence loomed large due to his behaviour not changing even after being jailed previously for similar crimes.

Goodland was jailed for seven years, with eight months of his previous suspended sentence added cumulatively on this.

There was no parole eligibility date which meant Goodland could only apply for bail after he had served half of his sentence, which was after three years and ten months.

His 566 days on remand from August 19, 2023 to March 16 this year, the day before his sentence, was taken as time served.

Originally published as Rhyse William Goodland found guilty in Brisbane District Court of raping woman