Woman raped on three occasions

The court heard the rapes occurred in 2016 between February 1 and April 30.

Prosecutor Jamie Singh told the court the victim met the accused online in 2013 and he moved into her house in October 2014 because he had found employment in Victoria and needed somewhere to stay.

Shortly after he moved in, the pair started a short de facto relationship.

In September 2015 the woman moved to a new house, and the man also moved there and helped with paying rent. He had his own bedroom there, Mr Singh said.

The court was told that for medical reasons the woman was taking a daily dose of the prescription drug Seroquel every night, which made her drowsy and resulted in a deep sleep.

On a night between February 1 and February 28, 2016, the then six-months pregnant woman was asleep and awoke to find the man with his hands down her pants.

She told the man she did not want to do anything as she was tired, and the man eventually left, Mr Singh said.

The woman awoke later to the man with his hands down her pants.

She moved away several times before he raped her, the court was told.

The court heard that on another occasion between February 14 and March 14, 2016, the man started making sexual comments to the woman as she lay in bed watching television while sick.

The woman told him he had “Buckley’s chance” of sexual intimacy and “no, we are not doing anything”.

The two fell asleep in the same bed, before later she awoke to him touching her breast and when he tried to kiss her, she said “no”, Mr Singh said.

He then raped her twice while the woman “closed her eyes and pretended it was a nightmare”, Mr Singh said.

Once finished, he attempted to cuddle her but she got up and walked outside.

On another occasion between April 1 and April 30, 2016, the woman was in bed and told the man she did not want to watch a movie when he asked if she wanted to.

The court heard he then became aggressive towards her and raped her twice while she physically fought against him.

Holding down her wrist with one hand he asked if she had finished fighting and then said “come on, just this once”, Mr Singh said.

He raped her a third time as she continued to struggle.

In a victim impact statement the woman read herself to the court, she spoke of not being able to trust anyone or feel emotions.

She also said she had panic attacks almost every night and had developed emotional detachment disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The woman said before the man came into her life she had been “happy and social” but now she did not go out anymore and did not trust anyone.

“I can put on a smile and a brave face, but it is fake,” she said.

“I feel dead inside.

“I am never going to forget what he’s done.

“I have to live with the emotional and psychological scars.

“I miss my fun and happy old self who used to enjoy the ups and downs of life.”

Defence barrister Zubin Menon told the judge he wished to rely on written submissions.

However, he noted his client had already spent two months short of three years in jail in pre-sentence detention.

He said during this time he had been drug-free.

Judge Geoff Chettle said the offences were serious, with the third one on the “upper level” of seriousness.