One of the victims, who was in court, became tearful and hugged family members when the verdict was read out. Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he must consider that Shorten had just been sentenced for raping a child 10 years prior to these offences – and called it a “serious aggravating factor.”
He said that this man “already raped a child and years later set about committing these offences. He knew exactly what he was doing. He appeared to do it with impunity,” the Judge said.
Mr Justice McDermott said these were cases of “violence against women” and commented on what he said was an “unhappy reality” where all too often women go out simply to enjoy themselves, but that there is an “unhealthy attitude” to women in our society, and the best advice given is to get home safely “without fear of violence.”
Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he must consider that Shorten had just been sentenced for raping a child 10 years prior to these offences – and called it a “serious aggravating factor.” He said that this man “already raped a child and years later set about committing these offences. He knew exactly what he was doing. He appeared to do it with impunity,” the Judge said.
