A man who broke into an Adelaide home and tried to rape a grandmother while her husband watched television downstairs will spend at least three-and-a-half years behind bars.
Anthony Doyle, now 26, was found guilty by a jury of assault with intent to rape and aggravated serious criminal trespass over the incident in Adelaide's northern suburbs in September 2020.
Sentencing him to six years, with a non-parole period of three-and-a-half years, Judge Jane Schammer said she hoped Doyle would do what the victim asked in her impact statement and treat women with respect.
"Namely that when you are released from custody, you treat women with respect and dignity and not see them as simply an opportunity to satisfy your sexual urges," Judge Schammer said.
Then 24-year-old Doyle, who was unemployed, entered the home by climbing up to the balcony and going through an unlocked door.
"You thought there might be a young woman in there who wanted to have sex with you," Judge Schammer told South Australia's District Court.
Before entering, he stripped completely naked, leaving his clothes and shoes at various spots outside the house.
The grandmother was asleep by herself while her husband was awake watching television in another room.
The court heard the woman was snoring, and he moved slowly to make sure she did not wake before the attempted rape.
She woke up and yelled out to her husband who restrained Doyle until police came.
Mental health issues noted
Judge Schammer accepted that Doyle had mental health issues, but said this was a "very serious" offence with "significant and long-lasting" consequences for the victim and her husband.
"It cannot be underestimated how frightening this must have been for [the victim] to be woken by a naked intruder on top of her in her bed," Judge Schammer said.
She said the couple had sold their home of 42 years because they no longer felt safe in it, and the victim had retired from her professional career after experiencing anxiety from the attempted rape.
Judge Schammer said he was not entitled to a discounted sentence.
"You have not apologised, nor have you demonstrated any remorse for or insight into the serious ramifications of your conduct," Judge Schammer said.
