A northern NSW man has been found guilty of a violent assault and rape on a woman at the luxury The Star casino and hotel in 2022.
Joel Nathan Fitzpatrick Burtt, 22, was convicted of four counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of choking the woman in a room at the five-star Sydney hotel.
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Fitzpatrick Burtt heard the jury’s decision on Tuesday in the presence of his sisters and weeping mother at Sydney’s Downing District Court.
His family sobbed and hugged him before he was led from the dock by correctional officers.
“Love you mum,” Fitzpatrick Burtt said. “I’ll take care of myself.”
Fitzpatrick Burtt was found by the jury to have viciously assaulted and raped the woman after a night out in Sydney on October 29, 2022.
The pair returned to his hotel room after a mutual connection’s birthday party when he grabbed the woman by the neck and forcibly held her down.
After she rejected his request for sex, he punched her to the side of the head and raped her.
Fitzpatrick Burtt sexually assaulted her multiple times before he kicked the woman in the face after she started crying, pouring ice over her as she lay on the floor and stomped on her, according to the prosecution.
Witnesses heard screams from next door.She then left the hotel room, speaking to hotel security and police before going to hospital.
The Suffolk Park man was found not guilty of assault and choking charges from previous alleged incidents.
Fitzpatrick Burtt is due for sentencing on November 19.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
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