A man has been jailed for 11 years and six months for raping two women with intellectual disabilities in Western Australia's Goldfields.
The man was in a relationship with one of the women in Kalgoorlie and was her full-time carer at the time of the sexual assaults.
The second woman was a friend of that victim.
The offender, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was sentenced in the Kalgoorlie District Court today over four counts of rape, including three involving "an incapable person".
At a trial this year, two experts agreed the second victim had a "moderate intellectual disability" but was not deemed to be "an incapable person".
The offences took place in 2015 and 2017 at homes in Kalgoorlie and Perth.
Accused 'showed no remorse'
The accused was convicted by the trial jury.
He maintained he was innocent of the sex crimes but pleaded guilty to an offence of criminal damage and physical assault relating to his then partner.
Sentencing him, Judge Amanda Burrows said it was clear the man showed no remorse and he was at risk of reoffending.
"You were aware both victims had intellectual impairments … you were a full time carer and there was a significant power imbalance in your relationship," she said.
"These victims were particularly vulnerable.
"It was clear the giving of evidence was distressing for them both."
Offender victim's carer for five years
In a statement to the court, the man's former partner said she had lost family and friends due to her relationship with the man and "a lot of people blamed her for what happened".
The woman was in a relationship with the man for several years, had a child with him and was under his full-time care since 2015.
Judge Burrows said the woman had harmed herself during the relationship due to abuse.
