A man who stalked and raped a 12-year-old girl on the NSW Central Coast has been sentenced to 28 years in jail, with the judge saying “society has no place for a person like you”.
In May 2017, Troy Johnson dragged the victim into a bushland in Narara, bound her hands and feet with cable ties and sexually assaulted her for almost an hour. He was wearing a camouflage suit – also known as ghillie suit – and wielding a knife during the attack.
Gosford District Court heard that the man had “gloated” about the action to a friend in a phone call.
“Dude, you’ll never believe what I just did. I tied up a schoolgirl,” he said.
Johnson’s manager said the mechanic arrived at work three hours late on the day of the attack with wet patches on his clothes, claiming that he had been in a road rage incident.
Judge David Wilson told the court Johnson had been stalking the victim for several weeks before committing the assault.
Judge Wilson said the girl, who appeared in court to read an impact statement last week, “was truly a victim of the detestable conduct of the perverted offender”.
The judge commended the girl’s “enormous courage” for facing her attacker.
The judge described Johnson’s offense as “hideous”, “depraved” and “truly repugnant”.
“Society has no place for a person like you,” the judge told Johnson.
“You’ve shown no insight or understanding of the impact your predatory, vulgar conduct had upon your victims.”
Johnson pleaded guilty to 10 charges, three of which were in relation to the assault of another child in 2016 and 2017.
Judge Wilson lifted the suppression order on naming Johnson after media outlets fought the attempt to keep his name and face hidden.
Johnson will not be eligible for parole until 2038.
“Today’s sentence is testament to the very brave girls who came forward,” said Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec from the Sex Crimes Squad.
“It’s been a very challenging time for the family, and we hope we can all move forward today.”
