A woman whose own mother organised her rape has called for her mum’s sentence to be extended as she is set to be released from prison this year.
Peta Butler was raped by an obese man in a hotel room in Toowoomba, east of Brisbane, in 2006 – a horrific case of abuse organised by her mother, Therese.
Twelve years on however, her abuser known only as ‘Thommo’ remains unidentified, and Therese’s four-year sentence, which was suspended after 12 months, will be up.
Peta Butler (right, when she was about 15) was raped by an obese man in a hotel room in Toowoomba, in 2006 – a horrific case of abuse organised by her mother, Therese (left)
Twelve years on however, Peta’s (pictured) abuser known only as ‘Thommo’ remains unidentified, and Therese will be released from prison in October
Ms Butler, now 27 and with children of her own, says she continues to fear for hers and her young family’s life, and even more so with her mother’s impending release.
Therese was found guilty of taking her daughter on a ‘girl’s weekend’ to the regional town, plying her with alcoholic drinks and forcing her to have sex with a stranger.
She was finally charged in October 2016 after Peta, with the aid of police, recorded a phone call in which her mother admitted to committing the heinous crime.
A petition to the Attorney General has campaigned for Therese to stay behind bars, with her sentence being described as ‘inadequate’ for her crime.
Ms Butler pictured), now 27 and with children of her own, says she continues to fear for hers and her young family’s life, and even more so with her mother’s impending release
Therese Butler was jailed in January but is due to be released in October after serving 12 months of her four year sentence
‘Australian children who are victims of pain, torture, neglect, malnutrition, emotionally or sexually abused or subject to violence for several minutes, hours or days should automatically have their abuser sentenced to murder charges,’ the petition reads.
‘These charges should be automatic when there is sufficient evidence to prosecute.
‘No child should be left feeling their life was worthless. We need justice for every child.
‘We are urging the Attorney-General to appeal this case as a matter of urgency and set a precedent to protect our children.’
Police have renewed an appeal to catch Peta’s rapist, known only to officers as Thommo
Peta revealed sickening details of the night she was taken to be raped by ‘Thommo’ last month, recalling the obese man’s scent and feeling of his stubble rubbing her.
She remembered wishing her mother, who was outside smoking a cigarette, would enter the room and save her.
‘She knew what was happening. She might as well have murdered me on that day. She took me to that place and premeditated the whole thing. That’s not a mother,’ she told A Current Affair.
Therese hugged her daughter and told her everything was going to be okay, before forcing Peta to share the hotel room with her and Thommo that night.
The next morning, they were taken to the bus station in Thommo’s car – a journey Peta recalls as completely silent.
Bulging eyes and ‘extremely obese’: Clues to the identity of Peta Butler’s vile rapist as released by police
Police have made an urgent appeal for public information about a man named Thommo (pictured is a police comfit image) who is wanted for the rape of teenage girl Peta Butler
– ‘Thommo’ is described as being in his mid-to-late 40s at the time of the incident
– Police said he was extremely obese, around 175 centimetres tall with a shaved head, stubble and distinctive bulging blue eyes
– He was wearing an expensive suit and drove a car with cream coloured leather seats.
– He is known only as ‘Thommo‘ and would now be aged in his 50s
– The man is believed to have used an email address similar to thommo_thommo_thommo@hotmail.com
– Police believe it is likely he has preyed upon other girls or women
Anyone who may recognise him, has knowledge of his movements or knows anything that may help identify him is urged to contact Policelink, Crime Stoppers or their local police station
Anyone who believes they have been hurt by this man is urged to visit their local police station and speak with investigators.