Remzi Bektasovski to spend more than three years behind bars for raping teenage girl

After a trial in Wollongong District Court in January, a jury found Remzi Bektasovski guilty of two charges of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of assault with an act of indecency on a teenage girl.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge of sexual intercourse without consent related to a second complainant and found him not guilty of sexually assaulting a third teenage girl.

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The 22-year-old martial arts teacher was accused of sexually assaulting the three teenagers on separate occasions in 2016 and 2017 in the Illawarra, however, he claimed the sexual encounters were consensual.

Judge Andrew Haesler handed down a sentence to Bektasovski in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday where he set a head sentence of five years and six months imprisonment and a non-parole period of three years and four months backdated to January 29 this year when Bektasovski was taken into custody.

"The complainant made her lack of consent unequivocally clear," Judge Haesler said.

"He showed a degree of persistent, forceful and overbearing behaviour.

"He ignored her as a person, her pleas and had no concern for her.

"Bektasovski only thought of himself ... he is not the man he thinks he is and he does not deserve the respect of others.

"He has no real idea of what he did. His cognitive distortions still exist."

Judge Haesler also said Bektasovski's actions were "opportunistic" and there was a "degree of deception" when he promised the teenage girl he would not have sex with her, also adding he caused the girl "pain".

Judge Haelser said Bektasovski's belief that the woman wanted to have sex was wrong and that he must understand the "consequences of his actions when he acts without consent".

The jury heard the teenage girl met up with Bektasovski, who was 18 at the time, so he could help her sort out a technology issue one afternoon in February 2017.

Bektasovski allegedly began trying to force the teenage girl to kiss him while they were on a bed in a granny flat at his Wollongong home before she was coerced into performing oral sex on him.

He then raped her in the laundry after he tried to pull down her underwear as she tried to keep them up.

During sentencing, Judge Haesler took into account Bektasovski's age, family support and that this would be his first time in custody.

"He is still a young man," Judge Haesler said. "He still has a lot of growing up to do and he still has a lot of living to do.

"I'm sure his time in custody will enable him to reflect on what he did."

Judge Haesler said at the time of the rape, Bektasovski lacked cognitive and emotional maturity and his lack of remorse for his actions showed a cognitive distortion, also adding he did not understand sexual boundaries.

In a victim impact statement, the woman told the court she had questioned her "sanity" and "self worth" since the rape.

"I hated my body and I kept thinking I was used and damaged," she said.

"I have struggled to find peace.

"This has taken a somewhat permanent toll on my life."

The woman described how she had recurring nightmares, constant self doubt and the assault had had a significant impact on her and her family.

She also described suffering panic attacks and anxiety but was working towards acceptance and recovery.

Outside court Bektavoski's lawyer Matthew Ward said his client's family was still "absorbing" the sentence but would not make any further comment.

Crown prosecutor Michael Fox indicated a second trial would take place on October 11 in Wollongong District Court to retry the charges related to the second woman.

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