A Melbourne man who took part in the "degrading and humiliating" rape of a woman, just minutes after finding her slumped on a footpath, could be eligible for parole in less than four years.
WARNING: This story contains content some people may find distressing.
Harley Palise, 30, was sentenced on Thursday in the County Court of Victoria to a decade in prison after a jury found him guilty over the brutal assault, which he carried out with his mate, Jarrod Thomas, at Carlton in 2018.
The men were meant to be giving the woman a ride home, but within minutes of helping her into the back seat they pulled over and raped her in the car in Coburg.
Both men later lied to the friends they were with about safely dropping the woman home.
The County Court heard that the victim, who cannot be named, has no memory of the night but continues to suffer anxiety, depression and nightmares because of the crime.
Judge Scott Johns said Palise was aware of the "shamefulness" of his conduct.
"She was powerless. There were two of you.
"You showed a complete disregard for [her] fundamental human rights."
Attack on 'vulnerable' woman
In June 2018, Palise was on the way home when he and Thomas noticed their victim slumped on the footpath near the intersection of Grattan and Lygon Streets in Carlton.
The pair had been out all night with friends at Crown Casino.
Those same friends got out of the car to check on the woman's welfare and it was at that point that Thomas, who was behind the wheel, agreed to drive her home.
But 12 minutes after helping the woman into their car, the pair raped their victim.
"She had no idea who you were when she got into your vehicle. She just wanted to be taken home. She needed to be taken home," Judge Johns said.
"You and Mr Thomas offered to do just that but then you took advantage of her vulnerability within minutes."
The men eventually dropped the woman home.
Her underwear was found in the front garden later that morning by her fiance.
"It is likely her underwear was around her ankle as she exited your vehicle," the judge said.
The next day, the woman went to hospital where she was medically-examined and forensic swabs were taken.
Palise was arrested 10 days later.
Offender had previous kidnapping conviction
The court heard that Palise was on a community corrections order at the time and has previously been convicted of kidnapping.
Judge Johns described Palise's crimes as "predatory".
"Your previous convictions raise concerns regarding your attitude to women. They raise concerns about your prospects of rehabilitation," the judge said.
The court heard that Palise's current partner is standing by him.
Thomas was jailed for six-and-a-half years with time already served and will have to serve just under four years before he is eligible for parole.
