Fury as predator who sexually assaulted a teenage girl, 17, is released from prison despite his chilling parole board report: ‘It’s a slap in the face’
- Rowlan Kim Paul released from prison
- He sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in 2019
- His victim made a shocking statement
A teenage girl who was chased and sexually assaulted by a predator as she stepped off a train has criticized the justice system after her attacker was released from prison despite a chilling report on his chances of rehabilitation.
Rowlan Kim Paul, 40, served three years and three months in prison for the attempted rape of a girl, 17, in broad daylight at Joondalup Train Station, north of Perth, Western Australia on December 13, 2019.
Paul was high on the synthetic cannabis Kronic, despite a history of schizophrenia, when he pinned the teen against a wall and put his hand under her dress.
He was also out on bail for other crimes at the time of the assault.
Two members of the public ran to help her when she screamed. Paul ran from the scene, but was arrested soon after.
Rowlan Kim Paul’s now 21-year-old victim made a poignant statement after he was released, saying she suffers from PTSD when she sees the same Hawaiian shirt Paul had on (pictured above)
He spent three years and three months in prison for the attempted rape of the then 17-year-old girl in 2019. Now 21, she believes it is inevitable that he will reoffend
Paul was recently released after serving his full sentence after being denied parole earlier in 2021.
He was immediately placed under supervision for 12 months by the Prisoners Review Board. That reported the Western Australian.
A PSSO imposes social supervision obligations on designated offenders.
A parole board report said that although Paul completed a sex offender treatment program, he made only “minimal or preliminary gains.”
Even more concerning, the report said Paul did not have “sufficient protective strategies” in place to reduce his risk to the community or support his own rehabilitation.
In a statement, the now 21-year-old victim said she found it hard to believe that Paul was allowed back on the streets with few restrictions, despite not being fully rehabilitated.
She said the sentence of three years and three months he received was “a slap in the face.” The maximum possible sentence was seven years.
The sexual assault that landed Paul in jail took place at Joondalup train station on December 13, 2019
“To find out that he has not participated in the programs at a satisfactory level is insulting to everything I had and am still going through,” the woman told The West Australian.
In her victim impact statement, she outlined the psychological consequences of the attempted rape.
The woman felt that her independence had been “completely shattered” since the assault.
The woman had attended a University of Notre Dame open house on the day of the attack, but only stopped her courses for several weeks due to panic attacks and fear of catching the same train.
She has also been diagnosed with PTSD, which she believes could be caused by seeing someone in a blue Hawaiian shirt – which Paul was wearing when he attacked her.