Parkside rapist Michael Paul Benfell jailed for at least 12 years for attack which caused victim ‘irreparable pain’

A man who broke into a woman’s Parkside home in Adelaide’s inner-south and twice raped the woman in her bed in the “most humiliating and egregious way” will spend at least 12 years in jail.

Michael Paul Benfell was found guilty by a jury last year of two counts of rape and one count of aggravated serious criminal trespass on April 10, 2018.

The 26-year-old walked into the house through an unlocked back door and waited in a different room before getting into bed with the sleeping woman and raping her.

The District Court previously heard the bedroom was pitch black and the victim initially thought it was her boyfriend who had returned because she was “still very much in the process of waking up” when she was attacked.

At the time, Benfell was on parole for serious criminal trespass offences and the court heard he had been on a “methamphetamine bender”.

Judge Paul Slattery said Benfell had caused “irreparable pain” to the victim, her housemates, friends and family.

“You violated the sanctity and safety of the home.

“Your actions have had a profound and lasting effect on their lives.

Judge Slattery said Benfell had previously been convicted of serious criminal trespass and had a moderate to high risk of re-offending.

Benfell was sentenced to 15 years in prison with a non-parole period of 12 years.

Benfell has previously apologised in court for lying and his behaviour.

He told the court he would not appeal the guilty conviction.

“More importantly, I’d like to apologise for the pain and hardship I’ve caused,” he said during sentencing submissions.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, I don’t even deserve your pity.”

Benfell’s sentence was backdated to December last year.