September 18th 2024.
In a recent court case, a judge has made a decision to deny a request to reduce the sentence for a man involved in the kidnapping of Janine Balding in 1988. The judge, John Pickering, stated that he believes the perpetrator, Wayne Wilmot, deserved an even longer sentence for his most recent offense as a serial rapist.
Wilmot, who is now 51 years old, was released from prison in 2024 but was placed under strict monitoring and prohibited from accessing pornographic material. However, just 11 days after his release, he was arrested again for violating these conditions. He was caught viewing online pornography, some of which was extremely graphic in nature. As a result, he was sentenced to an additional 18 months in jail at Waverley Local Court in July.
Unfortunately, Wilmot's appeal to reduce this sentence was rejected today at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. His defense argued that he had good prospects for rehabilitation, especially with the support he was set to receive through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. However, Judge Pickering questioned whether it was appropriate for the community to fund Wilmot's rehabilitation given his repeated offenses.
The judge also expressed his disappointment in Wilmot's actions, stating that a sex offender who blatantly violates court orders by viewing degrading material does not show signs of rehabilitation. He further questioned why the case was heard in a local court where the maximum sentence is only two years, instead of the district court where a much longer sentence could have been imposed. If it were up to him, Judge Pickering stated, Wilmot would have received a much longer sentence.
Wilmot's illegal online activity was discovered by his supervising officer when he asked for help in deleting his browser history to improve his phone's performance. Upon investigation, it was found that he had searched for extremely graphic and disturbing material, including videos of teenage girls being brutally abused. This behavior raises serious concerns about Wilmot's rehabilitation and his potential danger to the community.
Wilmot's past criminal history is also alarming. In 1988, at the age of 15, he was involved in the abduction and rape of Janine Balding, a 20-year-old bank teller. The case shocked the nation due to the brutality of the crime and the young age of the perpetrators. While he was not found guilty of Balding's murder, Wilmot was sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in the abduction and rape. Prior to this incident, he had also committed three other violent sexual assaults on women in public places.
After being released on parole in 1996, Wilmot continued to commit crimes against women. He robbed one victim and assaulted another. In 2023, he was acquitted of two separate charges related to sexual offenses while in custody, but was still deemed a danger to society and placed under an interim detention order. This order has been extended multiple times to keep him in jail.
It is clear that Wilmot's actions have had a devastating impact on his victims and their families. It is important for those affected by sexual assault or domestic and family violence to know that support is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT. Let us hope that justice is served and that Wilmot receives the necessary help and treatment to prevent any further harm to others.
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