Senator Derryn Hinch has named a convicted rapist who is feared to be stalking female doctors after escaping a transitional facility dubbed the ‘Village of the Damned.’
The 40-year-old sex offender slipped away from supervision at Corella Place, on the outskirts of Ararat in south-west Victoria in August.
Since then, he has repeatedly travelled to Melbourne demanding to see only female doctors at clinics since August, according to the Herald Sun.
After a number of female GPs were put in ‘dangerous’ situations, Victoria Police and the Australian Medical Association issued a warning – however they are unable to name him.
Name and shame: Senator Derryn Hinch says he will name the serial sex offender who is threatening the safety of female GPs in Melbourne
But on Tuesday night, Senator Hinch used his parliamentary privilege to reveal the sex offender’s identity.
‘Why are a rapist’s rights more important than a victim’s or possible victim?’ he told the Senate.
‘Although he has a history of raping, stalking and assaulting women, court orders – which I believe to be dangerous, irresponsible, court orders – prevent the AMA revealing his identity to medical centres so they can stop his appointments,’ he added, according to the Herald Sun.
AMA Victoria issued warnings for the convicted criminal in August and again in November after ‘several’ GPs had appointments with the man.
Early on Tuesday, Senator Hinch told 3AW he would name the 40-year-old in the Senate and he has previously named other sex offenders using his parliamentary privilege.
The 40-year-old man slipped away from supervision at Corella Place on the outskirts of Ararat in south-west Victoria, a transitional facility nicknamed the ‘Village of the Damned’
Convicted paedophiles and sex offenders are sent there where they live freely but are monitored with GPS ankle bracelets
Parliamentary privilege means members of Parliament cannot be sued or prosecuted for anything they say in debate in the houses.
But for legal reasons, the man cannot be named or pictured by the media.
The man has a history of raping, stalking and assaulting women, the Herald Sun reports.
He was convicted on two counts of rape in 2008 after sexually assaulting his housemate’s partner.
He was also convicted of assault in 1995 and has a background of violent crimes, stalking and breaching intervention orders.
Since August, has repeatedly travelled to Melbourne demanding to see only woman doctors at clinics since August.
The convicted criminals live in modern one, two and three bedroom cottages, complete with their own kitchens
Men are sent to Corella Place in the hope they can be rehabilitated as part of a post-sentence scheme
Victoria Police and the Australian Medical Association are warning people after several female doctors found themselves in ‘dangerous and unacceptable situations’.
AMA Victoria president Lorraine Baker said more needed to be done to protect doctors from the convicted rapist.
‘The police have been informed, but appear limited in their powers to assist,’ she said.
‘During August and November 2017, AMA Victoria has been contacted by some of our GP members who work in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.’
In August, AMA Victoria sent out a short alert to members warning them of the man’s behaviour.
The men are free to come and go as they please during daylight hours but must be accompanied by two guards
They are court ordered to be there for a period of time, which can be extended if they are still thought to be a threat to the community
‘The male usually rings and says: ‘Dr X has seen me in the past and can I make another appointment to see her’,’ the warning read.
‘This is a serious issue. Female GPs are being exposed to dangerous and unacceptable situations in their workplaces.’
Orders demand that the man is accompanied by a supervisor when seeing female doctors but it is alleged he showed up without a supervisor to at least one consultation.
Corella Place is a complex-style village that houses serious sex offenders after they complete their jail sentences.
Convicted paedophiles and sex offenders who are sent there live freely, but are monitored with GPS ankle bracelets.
The residents live in modern one, two and three-bedroom cottages complete with their own kitchens
The residents are also able to claim Centrelink payments given they have completed their prison sentences
Corella Place is a complex-style village that houses serious sex offenders after they complete their jail sentences