A Figtree man has been found guilty of holding a woman down and raping her while the two were alone in his caravan after a night out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 12-member jury reached the unanimous decision yesterday after a day-and-a-half of deliberation, finding Jason Robert White guilty of a single charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
Jury members heard White's victim had been out with her then partner at Corrimal Leagues Club on the evening of April 14, 2011 but the two had a fight, prompting him to leave early.
The woman continued drinking with a group of men, including White, before the group returned to White's home at Figtree Caravan Park about 12.45am.
The woman had sex with one of the visiting men while at the caravan, however when she left momentarily to go the toilet, the group departed, leaving her alone with White.
The 40-year-old then pushed the woman on to the table, pulled her pants down and sexually assaulted her.
The woman managed to escape the mobile home and sought refuge with one of White's neighbours while she contacted police.
White had maintained his innocence throughout the 3½-day trial, which began in Wollongong District Court on Monday.
He did not deny the woman had been at his caravan or that the two had had sex, but said the interaction was entirely consensual.
However, jury members ultimately failed to believe White's version of events.
During the trial the jury was played a recording of the woman's call to triple-0, which Crown prosecutor Michael Clark said showed the woman's obvious distress.
"You can hear her crying, you can hear her sobbing in that call," he said.
The jury also heard from some of White's neighbours, one of whom reported hearing a woman cry out "please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me" in the early hours of the morning.
Another neighbour told the court the woman banged on his door and yelled "help me, help me" at 3.30am.
White did not display any emotion when the jury's verdict was announced, but moments later hung his head in his hands while his legal team organised his sentencing date.
Judge David Frearson indicated White would be jailed.
The matter was adjourned to May 31.