Rapist jailed after brutal home invasion
A judge has grappled to describe a brutal home invasion where a man snuck into the home of a mother-of-two, repeatedly raped her, threatened to murder her children before forcing her to withdraw cash before he jailed the sex predator for 11 years.
District Court Judge Christopher Stevenson said Cameron John Graham, 22, had made the Beeliar woman face one of the most difficult decisions a human being could ever have to make and the woman had no choice but to submit to his demands to protect her two young children.
Graham will be eligible for parole after serving nine years for the sustained and brutal attack in January where he repeatedly sexually assaulted the woman, robbed her and threatened to kill her two children who were asleep downstairs.
The court heard Graham was wearing socks on his hands and had a T-shirt covering his face when he broke into the woman’s Beeliar home through a window on the top floor.
He then went downstairs to unlock the front door before going upstairs where he demanded money from the woman, before proceeding to rape, sexually assault and indecently assault her.
The court heard that at one point, Graham slapped the woman when she looked at him.
After the terrifying sexual assault, Graham forced the woman to drive to an ATM to withdraw cash.
As she drove home, Graham asked her if he could back and do it again before leaving the property.
Defence lawyer Sanella Naumovski said Graham had been on an "amphetamine bender" for three to four days before he committed the "opportunistic" offences.
She said Graham was remorseful but could not explain his actions and had said he had initially intended to burgle the home.
Prosecutor Felicity Cain said the offences had had a "catastrophic effect" on the woman and her family and had devastated every aspect of her life.
She said Graham’s claim that he did not recall the incident was not credible and was evidence of a lack of responsibility.
Judge Stevenson said the attack had escalated in seriousness and said it was difficult to find words to describe the offending.
"It is difficult for a reasonable human being to comprehend the conduct you engaged in," he told Graham.
Graham, who pleaded guilty to a string of charges over the attack, including sexual penetration without consent, aggravated burglary with intent, sexual coercion and robbery, sat with his head in his hands for much of this morning’s sentencing hearing, looking up only as Judge Stevenson addressed him.
Judge Stevenson said he did not accept Graham’s guilty pleas were a true sign of remorse and contrition but were rather a product of the evidence against him.
The court heard Graham had a dysfunctional childhood, began using drugs by the age of 14 and carried out the sex attack just three weeks after being released from prison after serving a sentence for a burglary and dishonesty "spree".
Judge Stevenson said it was hoped Graham would one day realise the seriousness of his offending, which would continue to affect his victim and her family for many years to come.
Graham was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment and his sentence was backdated to January.
He will be eligible for parole after serving nine years.
