12.56 pm, Sunday November 08 2009

Radio presenter's son jailed over rapes

17:51 AEST Fri Jul 3 2009
By Daniel Fogarty
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The son of a high profile Baptist minister has been jailed for "brutally" raping terrified women at knifepoint after breaking into their homes.

With his face covered by a stocking, Phillip Alexander Kenworthy, 44, broke into the homes of three women in the Melbourne suburb of Surrey Hills between 1982 and 1985 and raped them.

His victims, all single women, lived close to the home Kenworthy shared with his parents.

Kenworthy's crimes remained unsolved until 2006 when fingerprints left on a lamp and fuse box were matched with his prints.

Kenworthy, whose father Reverend Dr Alex Kenworthy presented a show on Melbourne radio station 3AW until his death in 1994, pleaded guilty to 14 charges including aggravated rape and aggravated burglary.

Victoria County Court Judge Geoffrey Chettle said Kenworthy had committed extremely serious rapes.

"You systematically preyed upon women who lived near your home," he said.

"You subjected each of them to humiliating, degrading and brutal offending."

Judge Chettle said Kenworthy's crimes shattered his victims' confidence, leaving them feeling fearful for the rest of their lives.

"This attack changed my life and everything in my life," one victim said in a statement to the court.

The court heard that after the attacks the victims turned their homes into virtual fortresses with bars on windows and numerous deadlocks.

During sentencing, Judge Chettle read from a psychologist's report tendered to the court that said Kenworthy, who is a truck driver, still exhibited signs of sexual deviancy.

He employed the services of prostitutes and was found to have more than 100 pornographic videos, the report noted.

The court heard the offences occurred at a time when Kenworthy, who was then aged between 18 and 20, was unemployed, the court heard.

Judge Chettle jailed Kenworthy for 15 years and six months.

He must serve 12 years before being eligible for parole.

Kenworthy will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Kenworthy's father was sacked from 3AW after allegations he seduced several women he had counselled on air.

He sued broadcaster Derryn Hinch, who made the allegations, but dropped the action before it reached court.

 
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