Johnston’s first victim was a worker at a massage store who refused his demand for “full-service sex” at 6.20pm on October 8, 2022.
He told her, “I’ve got money”, but she refused and told him she only did massage.
Johnston pushed his way through the shop door before pushing the worker into the staff area, where he grabbed her breast and touched her inappropriately until she screamed, “we’ve got CCTV”, and he ran off.
The woman then ran to a nearby business for help and called police.
Johnston’s second victim was a woman picking up a passenger at the Shepparton railway station.
Johnston got into her car and grabbed her from behind with his hands, hugging her before he kissed her at about 9.20pm.
The woman beeped the horn, told him to “get off me” and noticed her wallet was missing after Johnston had left.
The third victim was trying to leave Shepparton railway station in their car on the same night and was forced to stop to avoid crashing into Johnston.
Johnston tried to grab the car keys, opened the driver’s door and told them to get out.
When the victim told Johnston they weren’t getting out of the car, he said he would “give them a grand”.
Johnston then climbed over the driver into the passenger seat, and said he just wanted to go home, before he climbed on top of the victim.
He began kissing and biting them on the lips and chin before he eventually got out, and the driver locked the car.
Police found Johnston at his Shepparton home in the process of self-harming at 1.49am on October 9, before he was taken to hospital and sedated.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the third victim said they were now “constantly on edge”, had a “fear of being alone in public”, and they’re “always fearful about what will happen” when they leave the house.
In sentencing Johnston, Judge John Kelly noted Johnston’s underlying psychological and emotional issues but said the serious offending would have been “disturbing and frightening” for the “terrified three victims going about their business”.
“They have done nothing to deserve your disturbing interest in them,” he said.
Johnston had been impacted by exposure to alcohol and drug use from a young age, and his childhood was “blighted with anti-social influences”.
He had been regularly using drugs, including methamphetamines, GHB and cannabis at the time of the offending, of which he had no memory.
Judge Kelly acknowledged Johnston’s time in custody had been “productive” and that he had called the drug program he completed the “best nine months of my life”.
Judge Kelly said Johnston’s prospects of rehabilitation were not hopeless but noted he was deemed a moderate risk of further sexual reoffending.
Johnston was sentenced to four years and one month in prison and will have to serve two years and one month before becoming eligible for parole.
The 696 days he has spent in pre-sentence detention will count as time already served.
GV Centre Against Sexual Assault provides free and confidential counselling, information, advocacy and support to people who have been affected by sexual assault. Call 1800 112 343 or visit gvcasa.com.au
Lifeline provides crisis support and suicide prevention help. Call Lifeline on 131 114.
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