A Melbourne disability carer sexually assaulted two intellectually disabled women in his care within an hour, telling one of them not to say anything or he would lose his job.
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Ranulfo Torrefranca, 63, was sentenced on Monday to a maximum six years and nine months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and sexual penetration of a person with cognitive impairment.
The court heard Torrefranca, from Point Cook, had been a disability support worker at Gellibrand Support Services for about six months when he preyed on his victims in August 2018.
He was still on probation when he molested and sexually assaulted his first victim, who can't walk without assistance, in an office.
Within the same hour, he went on to sexually assault his second victim while assisting her to shower.
Torrefranca told the wheelchair-bound woman "don't tell anyone or I will lose my job" but she disclosed what happened to a female carer later that afternoon, who went on to contact the police.
Around the same time, Torrefranca texted his boss saying: "I am tendering my resignation effective immediately thanks".
During the police investigation, Torrefranca denied he sexually assaulted either woman and claimed they may have complained about him because he "did not allow them to go across the road to a fish and chip shop".
He initially pleaded his innocence, but reversed his plea after his DNA was found on one of his victims' breasts.
"You were in a position of trust, which you exploited," County Court Judge Martine Marich said.
"There was no one to protect these vulnerable victims from your behaviour."
Both victims provided statements to the court describing how they had lost trust in carers as a result of the attack, which the judge said she took into consideration during sentencing.
One of the victim's mothers said she was filled with "white-hot" anger and would never be able to forgive Torrefranca for betraying the trust placed in him.
"It is very difficult to trust unconditionally, and yet I have to. There is no choice. Trust takes a significant time to grow. For me, it has taken decades. My trust has been destroyed," she said.
The court heard Torrefranca had no prior criminal history, was of low-risk of reoffending and had the support of his family and the Christian Filipino community.
He wailed as he was taken into custody. He will serve at least four years before being eligible for parole.
Australian Associated Press
