Grandmother's Life Shattered by Electrician's Brutal Rape, While Attacker Claims Resilience
A 75-year-old grandmother, whose life has been devastated after being raped in her own home by an electrician, has described her existence as an ongoing nightmare. The woman, who has withdrawn from family and friends, struggles to eat and has lost so much weight she now purchases children's clothing. She requires a carer to complete basic tasks and has abandoned all outside activities, having previously expected to live independently into her nineties.
Victim's Harrowing Impact Statement Reveals Catastrophic Toll
In a detailed victim impact statement obtained by the Daily Mail, the elderly woman outlined the profound psychological, physical, mental, and spiritual damage inflicted upon her. She wrote, 'Today is December 17, a total of 601 days since April 2024 that I am not living but only existing.' The statement reveals how the assault has stripped her of wellbeing, respectability, and integrity, leaving her feeling dehumanised.
The woman explained that she now bolts all windows and doors, living in constant fear that someone will enter her home again. Her house, which once provided security and peace over nearly fifty years, has become a place of horror. She suffers heart palpitations and shaking fits, which she can only manage by screaming. Her social withdrawal extends to avoiding relatives, friends, and church, as she frequently breaks down emotionally.
Attack Details and Legal Proceedings
The perpetrator, 45-year-old Amol Vijay Dhumal, visited the woman's home in Sydney's north-west on April 22, 2024, with two other electrical contractors to install solar panels. At the end of the day, he hugged and attempted to kiss the woman after asking if she lived alone, saying she reminded him of his mother. Although she told him to leave, he returned alone two days later to fix a power problem.
During this second visit, Dhumal told the woman his wife never had sex with him, then tried unsuccessfully to drag her into a bedroom. When she responded, 'You've got to be kidding,' he held her down, lifted her legs, and raped her in the loungeroom. The woman contacted police two weeks later on May 6, with DNA evidence from her underwear positively identifying Dhumal. He was arrested on May 13.
Dhumal denied the single allegation of having sexual intercourse without consent but was found guilty by a New South Wales District Court jury in September. The woman could not attend his sentencing due to what she described as 'my endless suffering and traumas,' but her impact statement was presented to the court.
Perpetrator's Remarkable Resilience in Prison
Meanwhile, Dhumal reports being 'remarkably resilient' in his prison cell, engaging in yoga, prayer, and reciting Hindu mantras. Serving a minimum five-year sentence after being jailed for eight years with a non-parole period of five years, he has appealed his conviction. According to a psychological report, Dhumal 'firmly believes he did not commit a crime because the sex was consensual.'
The report found Dhumal presented with good mental health and no psychiatric diagnosis. He stated respect for the court's decisions but maintained his innocence regarding consent. His primary concerns are for his wife and children in western Sydney and his family in India. The married father-of-two has expressed underlying fear about negative consequences if other inmates discover his charges, noting that 'sex offenders aren't popular in prison.'
Judge's Scathing Assessment and Psychological Commentary
Judge Craig Everson, who sentenced Dhumal, dismissed claims that the perpetrator was at no risk of reoffending as 'ludicrous.' He stated, 'The fact that he denies the offence and shows no remorse suggests to me that he is at risk of reoffending, at the very least because he's not able to grasp what properly involves consent.'
Leading criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro agreed with Judge Everson's assessment, questioning what had changed beyond Dhumal's deprivation of liberty given his lack of empathy, insight, or remorse. The psychological report prepared for sentencing noted that while Dhumal maintains the intercourse was consensual, he regrets the effect on his wife and family.
Victim's Ongoing Suffering and Family Impact
The grandmother's statement reveals the comprehensive deterioration of her health and wellbeing. She wrote about visiting her local police station as her main contact with the outside world, where she repeatedly breaks down. Her garden, once a source of beauty and pride, now appears blank to her. She questions her continued existence, stating, 'When I try to sleep, I've said to myself, I wish I don't wake up anymore.'
Only her son knows about the sexual assault, as she has kept the attack from her grandchildren to protect their young minds. She wanted them to embrace multiculturalism in their schools and communities. When her son calls, she tells him not to worry about her, not wanting to affect him as his mother.
The woman described Dhumal as a 'Very Evil Person' with an 'Evil Heart,' 'Evil Mind,' and 'Evil and Filthy Mouth.' She concluded her statement by seeking 'full justice, to the maximum.' Dhumal will first be eligible for parole on April 11, 2030, and will remain in jail while his appeal is considered.
