A County Court of Victoria jury has found a well-connected Melbourne man guilty of raping a former staff member, following a trial in which the man had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The man cannot be named for legal reasons, and the court was told the offending occurred at his home in March 2023.
The verdict was delivered this week after the jury heard evidence over several weeks. Victoria Police did not comment on the individual outcome, with the matter having proceeded through the courts rather than as an active police investigation.
What the jury found #
Court documents show the man faced two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and the matter proceeded to a defended trial in the County Court. The jury was told the alleged offending involved a woman who had previously worked for the man, and that the incidents were said to have occurred at his home in March 2023.
Following deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts. A finding of guilt by a jury is a formal legal determination, and VCN reports it on that basis — the man has now been convicted of the offences as found by the court, though sentencing is a separate process still to occur.
Why the man cannot be named #
Under the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act 1958 (Vic), media in Victoria are prohibited from publishing any information that could identify a victim of a sexual offence. Because identifying the man in this case could, through association, make the victim identifiable — given the specific nature of their professional relationship — the court has restricted publication of his identity.
This is a common feature of Victorian sexual offence reporting. Our newsroom’s first obligation under the law is to protect the identity of complainants in sexual assault matters, and that obligation can sometimes mean withholding details about an accused or convicted person as well, where naming one would effectively unmask the other. Readers who want to understand more about how these protections work can refer to our explainer on sexual assault reporting laws in Victoria.
The court process, explained #
For readers unfamiliar with how matters like this move through the system, a charge is laid by police or the Office of Public Prosecutions after an allegation is investigated. The accused then enters a plea. If they plead not guilty, as occurred in this case, the matter proceeds to a trial before a judge and jury in the County Court.
At trial, the prosecution must prove each charge beyond reasonable doubt. The jury’s role is solely to determine whether the evidence presented meets that threshold — they do not investigate, and they hear only what is admitted as evidence during the trial. Once a jury delivers its verdict, as it has done here, that verdict stands as the court’s finding of fact unless overturned on appeal.
A sentencing hearing will now be listed separately. At that hearing, the judge will hear submissions from both the prosecution and defence before determining an appropriate penalty, taking into account victim impact statements, any mitigating factors, and sentencing guidelines that apply to rape and sexual assault offences in Victoria.
The employment relationship at the centre of the case #
Court documents describe the woman as a former staff member of the man. VCN understands the professional relationship between the two was a significant feature of the evidence put before the jury, though we are not in a position to detail further specifics of that evidence given the restrictions on identifying either party.
Workplace-adjacent sexual offending — where an alleged offender holds a position of authority, seniority or influence over a complainant — has increasingly come under scrutiny in Victorian courts and in broader public discussion around workplace safety. Sector bodies and advocacy groups have called for greater protections for employees who report misconduct by employers or senior colleagues, noting the power imbalance inherent in such relationships can make coming forward to police extremely difficult.
What happens next #
The matter will return to the County Court for a plea hearing, at which submissions on sentencing will be made. Under Victorian sentencing law, rape carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment, while sexual assault carries a maximum of 10 years, though actual sentences depend heavily on the specific circumstances found by the court and any relevant sentencing guidelines published by the Sentencing Advisory Council.
VCN will report on the outcome of sentencing when it is handed down. Because the man cannot currently be named, our coverage of the sentencing hearing will similarly maintain that restriction, consistent with our obligations under the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act.
Support is available #
We recognise that reporting on sexual offence matters can be distressing for readers, including those who may have experienced similar circumstances themselves. Anyone affected by the issues raised in this article is encouraged to reach out for support.
- 1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 (24/7 national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line)
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line — 1800 806 292 (after-hours crisis support in Victoria)
- Lifeline — 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
- Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636 (mental health support)
- Safe Steps — 1800 015 188 (Victorian family violence response centre)
The man has been found guilty by a jury and is yet to be sentenced. He remains entitled to appeal the verdict, and any sentence imposed will be determined by the court at a later date. The matter is currently before the courts.
