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A man who lured a German backpacker to a remote farm with a fake job advert before drugging, restraining and raping her has had his prison term extended indefinitely.
Key points:
- Peter van de Wetering was sentenced to nine years in prison for drugging, restraining and raping a backpacker
- The 56-year-old was due for parole next Friday
- The judge found there were "important gaps" in van de Wetering's motivations
Peter van de Wetering was sentenced to nine years in jail in 2016 for attacking the 19-year-old tourist.
He was due for parole next Friday, but Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath had applied to Brisbane's Supreme Court to extend his prison term, arguing he was an "unacceptable risk" to the community.
In delivering her judgement, Supreme Court Justice Catherine Muir noted the only way the community could be adequately protected was by continuing detention.
Van de Wetering argued his exemplary performance in custody was evidence he could comply with a supervision order.
Justice Muir rejected this, noting the 56-year-old didn't see himself as an untreated sex offender and didn't need any supervision.
Four psychiatrists gave evidence to the contrary.
Justice Muir found there was significant risk van de Wetering wouldn't engage with a supervisor or sexual offending courses, as he had stated his offending was not sexually motivated, but drug-induced.
She stated van de Wetering had shown no awareness of the risk he presented to the community.
'Uncertainties' following prospective release
Justine Muir noted van de Wetering preferred to be alone and had no social network.
He'd said he did not plan to make friends or connect with people upon his release, had no prospects of employment, and intended to live in public housing, reading, exercising, and practising tai chi.
Justice Muir stated there were "important gaps" or "uncertainties" about van de Wetering's motivations and desires upon release, before his risk to the community could be managed by a supervision order.
"The consequences to the community, if the risk manifests itself, are severe," she said.
She noted that until the 56-year-old had engaged with sexual offender courses, and there was evidence he was likely to comply with a supervision order, he would be detained.
"Before a supervision order … is made, the court needs to be satisfied that its likely effect will be to reduce the risk of a serious sexual offence to an 'acceptably low level'," she wrote.
Drug-laced chocolate
Van de Wetering posted a fake online advertisement for a nanny and farmhand in 2013.
The teenage backpacker applied for the role and travelled to the Cottonvale farm on the Southern Darling Downs.
Van de Wetering — then 46 — picked her up at a bus stop, disguised in a fake beard and moustache, and offered her a chocolate which was laced with a drug that would knock her unconscious.
Recognising something was off, the backpacker discreetly spat it out, leading van De Wetering to become enraged when he realised his ploy had failed.
He drove her to an abandoned shearer's shed and used zip ties to restrain her to a bed, before forcing her to eat the drugged chocolate.
She woke up the following day around 1am, dumped in long grass by the side of the road.
Police found the attack was meticulously planned, with van de Wetering buying the disguise four months earlier.