A Cringila pervert who masturbated in front of three females and intimidated two more in random acts of grubbiness from the driver's seat of his car has been sentenced to a total of five years and eight months behind bars.
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Alexander Veljanovski, 34, initially denied he was the man behind the wheel of the burgundy BMW reportedly involved in each of the incidents, but admitted his crimes in court, pleading guilty to two counts each of carrying out a sexual act with another and intimidation and one count of attempting to carry out a sexual act.
During sentencing proceedings in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday, Veljanovski repeatedly apologised for his actions, saying he wished he could take back what he'd done.
"I apologise, I'm sincerely so, so sorry...I'm deeply, deeply sorry, I promise not to do it again," he said in a series of incomplete sentences.
"I just want to say how sorry I am and I'll never do it again, I promise."
However, when asked if he was determined to get a woman into his car, Veljanovski replied "yes", admitting at least one of the women he targeted was older than his mother.
"You understand how scared all these women may have been?" the prosecutor asked him.
"Yes," he replied.
The court heard Veljanovski told a psychologist he'd committed the offences because he didn't have any money to pay for a sex worker, but when asked what he expected if he did get one of the females into his car, he replied "to get to know them".
The family of Veljanovski's youngest victim, aged just 11, wrote a statement to the court saying she continued to live in fear from the ordeal and suffered from panic attacks whenever she saw a red car.
"Before the incident occurred, she was a fearless 11-year-old girl," the family said.
"For months afterwards, she was scared to go anywhere. She'd only go to school if her dad walked her the whole way and promised to be back waiting at the gate before the bell went."
The family said when they asked the child what she wanted out of the sentencing proceedings, she responded "please put him away so he can't hurt or scare any other kids like me".
A set of agreed facts tendered to the court reveal a 51-year-old woman was walking along Mulda Street in Brownsville on July 22 last year when Veljanovski pulled up next to her and said "hey baby, would you like to ride this?"
The victim said "you've gotta be joking", telling police as she looked at Veljanovski she saw he had his penis exposed and was masturbating himself.
The woman recorded Veljanovski's number plate as he drove off then reported the matter to Dapto Police Station.
Less than half an hour later, Veljanovski approached a 15-year-old school girl on Fowlers Road at Koonawarra.
He asked her if she needed a lift, but she declined.
Veljanovski then told her to "get in the car" so he could perform a sex act on her. The victim said she saw Veljanovski was masturbating his erect penis as he made the comment.
She ran home and told her mother what had occurred and the incident was reported to police.
Meanwhile, Veljanovski turned his car into Galong Crescent where he approached the 11-year-old girl and and said "hi how are you? Will you jump in the car with me.?"
The girl ran to a nearby house and sought help.
Veljanovski then made his way to Dapto where he accosted a 21-year-old woman near a carpark on Mays Road, becoming aggressive towards her when she declined his offer of a lift.
Veljanovski's last sexual offence occurred a few weeks later on August 15 when he approached a 66-year-old woman and asked her for directions to Thirroul while attempting to undo his zipper and remove his penis.
The victim saw what Veljanovski was doing and said "I'm not having any of that carry on, piss off".
Veljanovski was arrested later that day, charged and remanded in custody.
In court on Tuesday, Acting Judge Greg Woods said a background report prepared for the sentencing proceedings said Veljanovski had a drug abuse problem, which he was yet to get under control but had contributed to his behaviour.
He noted the report said Veljanovski presented an "above average" risk of committing further offences.
"I accept he's sorry for it, but sometimes expressions of contrition aren't necessarily a good pointer to future behaviour," he said.
"I accept the Crown's submission that protection of the community should be a significant consideration.
"People in the community are entitled to expect that their children walking down road in broad daylight are not approached by criminals....offering to see their private parts or asking them to get in car.
"I have no doubt the [11-year-old] child would have been terrified."
Judge Woods imposed a non-parole period of three years and eight months.
With time served, Veljanovski will be eligible for released on parole in in November 2023.
