Two men who took turns raping their girlfriend after a 21st birthday party are spared more time behind bars – as she was left traumatized
- Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull raped friend
- They were convicted and imprisoned twice
- They will now be released by community order for corrections to be made
Two men found guilty of raping a young woman twice after a friend’s 21st birthday have saved more time in jail as their victim lives with the trauma of the assault.
Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull, both 28, were charged with raping the woman in a caravan after a party in April 2016 in Balmoral, in a case that rocked the tight-knit rural town of about 300 in western Victoria.
Most of the young people at the party had been drinking and the woman was ready to sleep in the caravan when Bloomfield and Merryfull attacked her.
The woman had trusted the men, considered them longtime friends, and repeatedly said “no” when they approached her.
Shaun Bloomfield (left) and Luke Merryfull (right), both 28, were accused of raping the woman in a caravan after a party in April 2016 in Balmoral, a close-knit rural town in western Victoria.
They took turns raping her, with Merryfull telling Bloomfield, “she’s all yours now.”
“What she just wanted to do was fall asleep in the caravan and wake up the next day,” County Court of Victoria Judge David Brookes said Wednesday in sentencing the men.
The woman quickly reported the assault to friends and police, but what awaited her was seven years of working with the justice system.
The pair were first convicted in 2019, with Bloomfield receiving five years and eight months in prison and Merryfull being sentenced to four years and ten months in prison.
Their convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeal and a new trial was ordered, with both being released after about 19 months.
They were convicted again in August last year.
The woman was traumatized by the rape, which sent her into the worst years of her life and left her community feeling excluded.
The attack left her with severe mental health problems related to post-traumatic stress disorder, including depressive episodes and severe anxiety, whereas she was “the life of the party” before the attack.
Most of the young people at the party had been drinking and the woman was ready to sleep in the caravan when Bloomfield and Merryfull (pictured) attacked her
Bloomfield and Merryfull felt the burden of litigation hanging over them over the years, but continued to keep jobs and support their friends and families.
Merryfull, who the judge said treated the woman as “just an object,” was a landscape gardener whose offense was “radically at odds” with his character, as evidenced by 21 references.
He had a solid work ethic and history, was loyal, reliable and considerate, the court was told.
He maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, but showed compassion for the woman.
Bloomfield showed little remorse, saying that while the victim may have felt raped, he “had no suspicion” of a lack of consent.
The judge acknowledged that Bloomfield stopped beating the woman as soon as she pushed him, but said that does not detract from the seriousness of his offense.
Bloomfield was recognized with an award for bravery after saving two men from drowning in 2014, volunteering to join the fire service and speaking to remandees as a prison listener while in custody.
His offense was in stark contrast to his otherwise good character, Judge Brookes said.
He sentenced Merryfull to time served and ordered him to serve two years of community service with 200 hours of community service for one count of rape.
The judge also sentenced Bloomfield to prison, but with an extended community service of three years, with 300 hours of community service for one assault and two rape charges.
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Bloomfield expressed little remorse, saying that while the victim may have felt raped, he had “no suspicion” of a lack of consent