A 26-year-old man from the Kimberley region of Western Australia has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 41-year-old woman outside her home in Broome. Damian Kevin Steven Nungatcha pleaded guilty to one count of sexual penetration without consent. The court heard that Nungatcha had first broken into a caravan, stealing a wallet, before targeting the victim's home. Despite her attempts to scare him away, Nungatcha overpowered the woman and sexually assaulted her.
A man from the Kimberley region of Western Australia has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman outside her Broome home in November 2023. Damian Kevin Steven Nungatcha, 26, appeared in the Broome District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of sexual penetration without consent. According to court documents, Nungatcha first entered a caravan on a nearby property, stealing a wallet from a sleeping man.
He then moved to another street and shone a torch through the window of the 41-year-old victim's home. The woman woke up and brandished an empty glass bottle in an attempt to deter Nungatcha. However, Nungatcha disregarded her pleas and shone the torch directly into her eyes while covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Despite the woman's attempts to bite his hand, Nungatcha overpowered her and sexually assaulted her. She managed to escape and return to her house. State prosecutor Jackie Stewart described the attack as 'forceful' and 'brazen,' highlighting the profound impact it had on the victim. She argued that Nungatcha posed a risk of reoffending and required specific deterrence. Nungatcha's defense lawyer, Clint Hampson, claimed his client had no intention of committing sexual assault and was struggling with homelessness after his release from prison. Judge Belinda Lonsdale acknowledged Nungatcha's difficult upbringing, which included exposure to domestic violence, homelessness at the age of 10, and illiteracy. She emphasized the need for general deterrence to prevent similar offenses, particularly aggravated burglaries. Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Lonsdale sentenced Nungatcha to three years in prison, taking into account his guilty pleas and previous incarceration for a separate matter. The sentence was backdated to January 31, 2024
SEXUAL ASSAULT AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA BROOME KIMBERLEY SENTENCE PRISON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMELESSNESS
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