By Ewen McRae
A Deer Park man has been sentenced in the County Court to more than eight years in prison for the rape and assault of his partner on several occasions.
Mark Kington, 42, was found guilty on November 19 last year of four counts of rape and one of common assault against his former partner.
The court heard that Kington formed a relationship with the victim in late 2013 and the pair was soon living with Kington’s parents in Deer Park.
The court heard that both Kington and the victim were using ice and marijuana throughout their relationship.
In November, 2014, the victim arrived home to find Kington smoking ice.
When he handed her the ice pipe to use, he forced himself on her. The victim said he then threw $50 at her and told her to move out.
The victim went to live with a friend, but a few weeks later she visited Kington’s house and a similar offence occurred.
The victim moved into a property in Thomastown in early 2015, with Kington a regular visitor.
The court heard that Kington forced himself on the victim twice more during the next eight months, and on one occasion strangled the victim with a T-shirt to the brink of unconsciousness. This incident led to the common assault charge.
Kington denied all the charges to the police and in a trial, but was found guilty by a jury last year.
In sentencing earlier this month, Judge John Smallwood said it was clear Kington did not understand how serious his acts were.
“You denied the matters and that falls upon me to … give an appropriate sentence for the objective seriousness of the offending, in circumstances where there is no remorse and no insight into the seriousness of what you did to this woman,” Judge Smallwood said.
“The offending is indeed serious. It took place over a significant period of time. It cannot be viewed that any one of these charges as being in isolation.
“In a domestic violence situation, this sort of – she described herself as being used effectively as a household utensil. General deterrence has to play a significant part.
“A very significant gaol sentence is the only sentencing option.”
Kington received a total sentence of eight years and three months and will be eligible for parole in five years.
