Appeal for information to find second sexual assault offender

Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad allege that on Sunday July 22, 1990, two men entered a woman's house in Wendouree West while she was sleeping between 4 and 5am.

The men entered the woman's bedroom and each raped her while the other was restraining her and covering her mouth.

The men were wearing masks and gloves and one threatened to kill the woman's five daughters, who were sleeping in the house, if she did not keep quiet.

After the men left the home, the woman told her teenage daughter what had occurred, who then alerted a family friend. That friend then reported the matter to police and an investigation commenced.

At the time, a number of items were seized from the woman's home.

A nightgown and fitted sheet were forensically tested when the case was re-opened by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives in 2019.

A person of interest was identified by investigators and they were subsequently able to link a now 57-year-old man to the incident via DNA.

Brett Braddock was subsequently charged in 2019 and pleaded guilty to burglary and aggravated rape.

He was sentenced at Ballarat County Court in August last year to 12 years and two months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of nine years.

The second man involved in the incident has never been identified and despite an extensive investigation, police are yet to identify or charge the second offender.

Police said the investigation remains active and ongoing as they launched a new appeal for anyone with information about the incident or the offenders to come forward.

Detective Senior Constable Phil Drews, of the Sexual Crimes Squad, said police believed the two offenders were known to each other or linked in some way.

Braddock was the victim's neighbour but has not assisted detectives in identifying the other man involved.

"We have made a number of enquiries over the years but have still not been able to identify the second person," he said.

While police continue to receive tips about the incident, it is hoped that more people will come forward with information that could lead police to the second offender.

"We'd like to speak to anyone who remembers Brett Braddock and any friends or acquaintances he might have had, where he spent his time, things he liked to do - which will hopefully give us some clues about any other man he could be connected to."

Officer in charge of the Sexual Crimes Squad, Detective Acting Inspector Mark Burnett, said the investigation was far from over for police.

"A person's house should be free from any offending and certainly when it comes to victims of sexual assault," he said.

Describing it as a "brutal" rape, he said it had significant and long-lasting psychological impacts on the victim, which she had had to live with for three decades, and her family.

"On the other hand, this man has lived those years with relative freedom and no repercussions yet for what he did."

He said police would "not give up" in finding the second offender and were "determined to find the second person involved".

"It absolutely does not matter that this incident happened 30 years ago.

"From our perspective, an investigation isn't over until everyone responsible is held to account - we've had one person charged but we are determined to find the second offender."

Acting Inspector Burnett appealed to anyone who lived in the Ballarat area around the time of the incident who may recall Braddock or his associates, or who has heard any information about who may have been involved that night, to come forward.

"Someone out there will have the information that we need to solve this - it doesn't matter how insignificant or trivial you think that detail is, history has shown that it's those small pieces of information that can make the biggest difference in solving a case like this," he said.

"Cold case investigations are unique in that updates to science, methodology and legislation allow us to progress a case in a way that may not have been possible at the time of the incident, so receiving information even 30 years later can still make an enormous difference."

"Our investigators are determined to keep going until this is fully resolved and the victim gets the justice she deserves."

Victoria Police encourages all victims of sexual assault and child abuse, and anyone who has knowledge of such a crime, to make a report.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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