A Far North Queensland man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a shocking crime spree that included sexual assault, stealing a police vehicle and leading officers on a dangerous chase through Cairns.
Violent Night of Crime Unfolds
Wilson Nathaniel, now 21, committed his offences during a single night of violence in December 2022. The court heard how Nathaniel first approached a 31-year-old woman walking along Pease Street in Manoora around 10:30 pm.
Nathaniel threatened the woman with a broken bottle before dragging her into nearby bushes where he sexually assaulted her. The terrified victim managed to escape and alert authorities, setting in motion a chain of events that would escalate dramatically.
Police Car Stolen During Investigation
While police were investigating the sexual assault at the scene, Nathaniel managed to steal an unattended marked police vehicle from Pease Street. The brazen theft occurred as officers were focused on their initial investigation.
The stolen police car sparked an immediate response from Queensland Police, with multiple units joining the pursuit through Cairns streets. The chase reached dangerous speeds before ending dramatically on the Captain Cook Highway near Smithfield.
Police were forced to fire shots at the vehicle's tyres to disable it, bringing the dangerous situation to a controlled conclusion around 11:20 pm.
Courtroom Sentencing and Consequences
During sentencing in Cairns District Court, Justice Anthony Rafter highlighted the seriousness of Nathaniel's crimes. "Your actions caused significant trauma to your victim and created substantial danger to the community," Justice Rafter told the defendant.
Nathaniel received a head sentence of nine years imprisonment for the rape charge, with additional concurrent sentences for the vehicle theft and other offences. He will be eligible for parole after serving four years of his sentence.
The court took into account Nathaniel's youth and his troubled background during sentencing considerations. However, Justice Rafter emphasized that the nature of the crimes demanded substantial punishment.
Queensland Police have since reviewed their procedures regarding vehicle security during active investigations to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.
