Port Fairy chef who raped waitress sentenced

The 43-year-old Sri Lankan national pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria in June to two counts of rape and one charge of intentionally distributing an intimate image.

On Tuesday he was jailed for seven years with 27 days already served in custody on remand.

He must serve a non-parole period of three years and six months.

Judge Claire Quin said the man was the manager and chef at a Port Fairy hospitality business where the 21-year-old victim was employed as a waitress on a casual basis in March 2018.

She said on the night of the offending the man made the victim four to five mixed vodka drinks, as well as straight shots of vodka, despite knowing she rarely consumed alcohol.

Judge Quin said the man twice raped the victim at their place of employment and took an intimate photo of her on his phone without her knowledge.

The man sent the photograph to a friend.

He then drove the victim home and told her he would give her a pay rise if she did not tell anyone what had happened.

Judge Quin said the victim told the man a number of times that she didn't want to participate in any sexual activity.

She said there were a number of aggravating features involved in the offending.

"You were the complainant's employer, in a position of power and much older. There was a significant breach of trust," Judge Quin said.

"You provided her with alcohol and offered her money for her silence."

The judge said the impact on the victim was significant.

She said the victim now suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep issues, and that her relationships with her now ex-partner and other males were impacted.

The judge said she accepted the man's incarceration would weigh heavily on his family, with his wife and eldest daughter suffering significant health issues.

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