A cognitively impaired young man who was declared a dangerous sex offender after attacking multiple women and girls will soon walk free from prison.
Leon Patrick, 25, has a history of sexual offending, as well as other crimes.
During one incident in February 2014, Patrick and a co-offender were drinking with a 24-year-old woman when he tried to rape her, the West Australian Supreme Court was told.
Patrick repeatedly asked the victim for sex, but she said she was not interested.
He and his co-offender then repeatedly hit the victim’s head, causing her to fall to the ground, then they continued to kick her head and body.
The co-offender then sat on top of the victim and Patrick pulled her shorts down to her knees despite her attempts to pull them up.
They ran off when a neighbour, who had witnessed the attack, shouted that they were calling the police.
For that offence of attempted aggravated sexual penetration without consent, Patrick was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Patrick was first locked up indefinitely under WA’s dangerous sex offender laws in 2017.
He was freed on a supervision order in 2019, but soon returned to custody after breaching the terms of his release by cutting off his electronic monitoring device and failing to meet his curfew.
Patrick was not monitored for almost five hours and told police after his arrest that he committed the offence out of boredom.
Justice Anthony Derrick acknowledged that history but ruled on Friday that Patrick, who had recently trialled hormonal anti-libidinal medication, could be released again with strict conditions.
“I have decided that the respondent’s continuing detention order should be rescinded and that the respondent should be released on a supervision order,” Justice Derrick said.
The judge noted Patrick had a dysfunctional childhood, had been officially diagnosed as having an intellectual disability secondary to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and by the age of 16 had developed a significant problem with alcohol and cannabis use.
“It is likely that chronic substance abuse has exacerbated any pre-existing cognitive difficulties that the respondent has,” xjmtzywJustice Derrick said.
He noted Patrick’s past offences had been “opportunistic, involved impulsivity” and were committed against vulnerable females.
“The respondent has an inclination, tendency or disposition to commit serious sexual offences against females without their consent in the future,” Justice Derrick said.
“There is an obvious need to protect the community from the risk that the respondent presents.”
But Justice Derrick said he was satisfied Patrick would “substantially comply” with the conditions of a supervision order.
Those 54 strict conditions include electronic monitoring, a curfew, rehabilitation programs, reporting to police, having no contact with the victims, and not committing any other criminal offence.
Patrick will be released in April and the supervision order will span at least 10 years.
