Repeat rapist fails to get out of jail

A repeat rapist who claimed he was too old and too ill to attack again has failed in his bid to be released from jail.

Dennis Lyddieth has served nearly 20 years in jail, following terrifying attacks on 13 women in their own homes around Perth between 1987 and 1991, and further sex offences when he was released on parole in 2002.

The judge who originally sent Lyddieth to prison described him as a "a truly dreadful menace to the young women of our community".

In the Supreme Court today, Justice Ralph Simmonds rejected Lyddieth's request to be released after a hearing last month was told his heart disease and diabetes, as well his age of 63, all reduced his risk of offending.

Justice Simmonds said he still considered Lyddieth too big a risk of reoffending if released, and ordered that he stay in prison. He is held at Karnet Prison Farm.

At the September hearing, psychiatrist Peter Wynn-Owen said he considered Lyddieth to be a serious risk of attacking again, saying the stresses of looking after himself outside prison could trigger an attack.

And Justice Simmonds - who sparked controversy when he released sex offender Patrick Comeagain earlier this year - was also told that while Lyddieth had made progress in prison, it was still "slight ... on a scale of very, very, very small change".

In 1992, Lyddieth was jailed for 19 years and 1 month for 48 offences including 16 counts of aggravated sexual assault, six counts of sexual assault and nine counts of indecent assault against 13 different women.

Then in 2002, after being paroled, Lyddieth was convicted for a number of indecent acts near beachgoers at Cottesloe and Hillarys.