A MAN who raped a housemate with a mild intellectual disability as she slept told the victim what he had done the following morning, and said he was keen to take things further.
Brendan William Trew, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent in Albury Local Court this week following an incident in January.
A second charge of aggravated sexual assault involving a victim with cognitive impairment was withdrawn.
The former Alice Springs resident had moved into the young woman’s North Albury home, but was not in a relationship with her.
The victim thought of their relationship as being “just friends”.
Yet Trew liked to think of himself as the woman’s carer, despite the fact she didn’t need such care.
They had met online through a social network in February 2014.
They remained in contact online and by phone until November 2016, when Trew travelled more than 2000 kilometres to live in her unit.
Police described the situation as a “shared accommodation arrangement” where the woman would live and sleep in the main bedroom, while Trew lived and slept in the living room.
The 42-year-old has no connections to the Border region other than knowing the victim.
The woman regularly takes medication which causes her to become drowsy.
On the night of January 14, she took her dose and went to bed.
Trew later went into her bedroom and digitally raped her as she slept.
She did not wake but noticed she was bleeding the following morning.
Police facts tendered to court note Trew told her what had happened and suggested further sexual acts.
“The victim felt uncomfortable and scared,” the facts note.
“She subsequently contacted her mother and later police. Police attended and a crime scene was established.”
Trew spoke to the Aboriginal Legal Service and decided to be interviewed.
“The accused made admissions to placing fingers inside the victim’s vagina and conceded she did not consent, as she was asleep,” the police stated.
“During the interview he expressed regret and remorse for doing this.”
The victim gave two statements to officers with support from the Albury Sexual Assault Service.
Trew will front the Albury District Court from May 29 for sentence.
