Parliament House rapist jailed for horror Saturday night sex attack

A man who digitally raped a young woman outside Parliament House has faced court, with a Hobart judge noting the rapist’s “generally excellent character”. SEE HIS PUNISHMENT

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A MAN who digitally raped a young woman outside Parliament House for nearly 40 minutes will spend just over a year in jail, with a Hobart judge noting the rapist’s “generally excellent character”.

Will Scott Brearley, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of rape for assaulting the woman on a Saturday night in June last year after they’d both been drinking at the Telegraph Hotel.

The entire rape, which took place at the rear of Parliament House next to a construction site, was recorded by CCTV.

A security supervisor viewed the footage about a month later and reported it to police.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania heard both were intoxicated, but the young woman much more so and was “completely defenceless”.

“She was so drunk that she fell down 13 times after the sexual abuse started,” Chief Justice Alan Blow said.

“Mr Brearley manhandled her in various ways. At times he held her by the arms against a wall. On about 14 occasions, he held or grabbed her throat.”

Parliament House in Hobart

The judge described the episode as a “particularly bad case of digital rape” and noted Brearley must have been aware the woman was not a willing participant.

“On many occasions the complainant resisted, trying to push Mr Brearley away, or trying to move away from him, but her attempts at resistance were substantially unsuccessful,” he said.

About 1.27am, two young men arrived to find the woman lying on the ground almost naked, helping her to get dressed and find her friend.

Chief Justice Blow said the rape was “entirely out of character” for Brearley, who he said only started drinking heavily after his friend died in a jet ski accident.

The judge also said neither the rapist nor the victim could remember the incident, but the woman was devastated and traumatised after discovering what had happened.

Brearley got married last November, five months after the rape, to a woman he has been with for seven years.

“They separated briefly as a result of this charge, but were reconciled and went ahead with their wedding plans,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“He was shocked last July when he was told about what he had done … he was appalled by his conduct.

“He was so upset by his conduct that at one stage he contemplated suicide.”

Brearley was jailed for two years and four months, with a non-parole period of 14 months.

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