A 27-year-old man has been jailed for two years after sexually assaulting a former work colleague at a party in September 2021.
Thomas Mark Bond pleaded guilty to indecent assault and rape after the incident involving a 26-year-old woman at a mutual friend’s gathering.
This story contains details of sexual assault that some readers may find distressing.
The Supreme Court of Tasmania heard Bond was heavily intoxicated when he approached the woman as she lay on a bench seat outside the party.
Despite her friend warning him to “back off, your dick is practically on her face”, Bond “put his hands inside her underwear and touched her on the vagina”, the court heard.
When the woman said “no Tom, there’s people here”, Bond exposed himself and forced his penis into her mouth for about 10 seconds.
“The complainant very clearly told him “No” and pointed out that they were in an area where other people were present,” Justice Tamara Jago said.
“Despite the complainant’s protests, the defendant persevered with his sexual assaults.”
The court heard Bond had consumed significant quantities of alcoholic punch nicknamed ‘the death punch’ and had been displaying “overly affectionate behaviour towards several female attendees”.
Bond and the victim had previously worked together for 18 months and had engaged in consensual sexual relations earlier in 2021.
The woman reported the assault to police in October 2021, but charges were not laid until February 2023, after forensic testing found Bond’s DNA on her underwear.
Justice Jago said the victim had been “terribly affected”, requiring professional help and suffering depression.
“She has experienced depression and describes herself as having been in “survival mode” for three and a half years, struggling daily with the psychological impacts of your criminal conduct,” the judge said.
Bond was diagnosed with ADHD in 2023, which the court heard contributed to his impulsivity when combined with alcohol.
He had no prior convictions and stopped drinking after learning of his behaviour.
Justice Jago sentenced him to two years’ jail with six months suspended, meaning he must serve at least nine months before being eligible for parole.
Bond will also be placed on the sex offender register for three years after his release.
