A Queensland man has been jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a German backpacker who answered a fake job ad.
According to reports Peter Van de Wetering reportedly used drug-laced chocolates, a fake beard and a promise of work to hoodwink a 19-year-old tourist before driving her to a remote property at Cottonvale, on the southern Darling Downs, where a horrific attack took place.
The ABC reports that the court heard the young woman was tied to a bed with cable ties and taunted with threats of putting a gun down her throat to stop her from screaming before Van der Wetering, 49, sexually assaulted and digitally raped her.
The woman was then drugged again and found walking on roadside about 1:30am on August 14, 2013.
Judge Terry Martin acknowledged the attack as “terrifying and degrading”, and said the victim continued to suffer psychological damage.
“The scars from the cable ties remained clearly visible for 1.5 years, no doubt being a constant reminder to her of her horrific ordeal,” Judge Martin said.
“She continues to be afraid of the dark, and it took her a long time to be able to stay at home alone overnight.”
Deeming Van der Wetering a serious violent offender, Judge Martin said: “This offending involves an entirely ruthless pursuit of a young and innocent woman for your sexual gratification.
“This offending involves extensive planning and preparation.”
