Briton Sentenced to 15 years for Multiple Rapes

A British man has been jailed for at least 11 years for the rapes of three women in Australia in the 1980s.

Cold cases

Colin Henderson raped the women in their Melbourne homes between 1981 and 1984, after answering their adverts for a housemate.

Detectives in Victoria, Australia reopened a number of cold cases after improvements in DNA technology linked Henderson to wine glasses in his victim’s homes.

On two occasions Henderson brought bottles of wine with him, under the guise of trying to ‘get to know a potential housemate’. But when one woman rebuffed his advances, he held a knife to her throat and raped her. He attacked another victim after asking to sleep in front of the fire because he was ‘too drunk to drive home’. A third victim was raped by Henderson whilst her three year old son slept in the other room.

The court heard how Henderson was married and had three young children at the time of the attacks.

Arrest & Extradition

Henderson reportedly left Australia in the mid-1990s and was living in England at the time of his arrest in 2014. The Scottish born man, now 65, was extradited from Britain last year and was due to be sentenced early in 2016 but he was too ill to attend court at the time. He later underwent emergency surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm while in custody.

Sentencing

Henderson pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated rape, one count of indecent rape, and four separate counts of aggravated rape.

Sentencing Henderson to 15 years in prison, with 11 years of non-parole, Victorian county court judge Paul Lacava said:

“Your conduct towards each of the three victims was reprehensible, predatory and planned.”

“This kind of offending was every woman’s worst nightmare.”

Sexual abuse claims – expert advice

Hampson Hughes Solicitors specialises in directing sexual abuse claims in a considerate and compassionate manner. Our Abuse & Criminal Injuries Department is headed by Greg Neill – Greg is a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL).

For an open and friendly conversation about your situation, and to find out how we can assist you relevant to your individual experience, call 0800 888 6 888 or email

You will be given the direct-dial of your case handler, meaning that you will always be able to reach the person you need.

Source: The Guardian