Tinder boyfriend who repeatedly raped, assaulted ex sentenced to over 13 years' jail

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to sexual abuse.

A young man who was found guilty of repeatedly raping or assaulting his ex-partner, including with a horse riding crop, during a lengthy period of abuse has been sentenced to more than a decade in jail.

The 21-year-old, who was not named to protect the identity of his victim, was found guilty of 19 charges after an ACT Supreme Court jury trial earlier this year.

He had no visible reaction when he learned he would be sentenced to a total of 13 years and five months’ jail with a non-parole period of six years and four months on Wednesday (18 October).

He was 19 when he started a relationship with the woman after they met over a dating app, Tinder, and she moved in with him in late 2021, Acting Justice Stephen Norrish said. He then abused her at their home on five occasions in early 2022.

He would say she was “not good enough” for him and called her “disgusting”. Among the abuse, he hit her with a horse riding crop while she screamed and cried, suffocated her with a pillow until she couldn’t breathe, slapped her genitals and dragged her by her hair. He also repeatedly raped her.

The attacks continued despite her telling him to stop and resulted in pain and injuries. She left him but returned several times before finally leaving for good when she dropped him off at a cannabis dealer’s home and escaped by driving out of the Territory.

The man then sent her money and made hundreds of calls and messages to her, saying things like, “I love you baby” and “Baby I promise the mean [his name] is gone”.

“I’m off the drugs, you don’t need to be scared,” he sent to her.

Later, in 2022, he choked and assaulted his brother while he was in a psychotic state, for which he has already been handed a jail sentence.

Acting Justice Norrish said the man had maintained his innocence after the trial, attributing the offences to his ex’s alleged “poor mental health” and claiming her injuries were the result of their consensual sexual activities. There was no evidence of his remorse.

The acting justice said there was an element of coercive control in the man’s behaviour and the ex had suffered from pain and “humiliation”, but he also said he didn’t think she had been vulnerable.

He said it seemed that while the acts of violence came without warning, she had “ample” opportunities to leave and she had her own car.

He did note they had lived in a “seemingly self-contained environment”, not seeing others.

The man had been assessed as having a high risk of reoffending and there was a concern regarding his capacity to engage with treatment programs to address his violent and sexual behaviour.

Acting Justice Norrish also said the man, who had been studying engineering at university, was a youthful offender who had no convictions before this abuse and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia since the offending.

He had been found guilty of nine counts of sexual intercourse without consent, four choking charges, two counts each of sexual assault in the third degree and committing an act of indecency, as well as single counts of assault and indecent assault in the third degree.

Acting Justice Norrish also found him guilty of six counts of assault and he pleaded guilty to one count of stalking.

He was convicted. His non-parole period means he is eligible to be released from jail in May 2029.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact 1800RESPECT, which is the national domestic and sexual violence support service by calling 1800 737 732 or by visiting its website.