Woman, 22, was left so severely injured by ordeal that paramedics thought she was dead, court told

This article is more than 4 months old

This article is more than 4 months old

A Queensland man systematically raped and burned a woman during three weeks of drug-induced violence that grew more brutal as her injuries worsened.

Nicholas John Crilley, 34, pleaded guilty to 54 offences, including grievous bodily harm, deprivation of liberty and torture, following the 23-day attack in June 2017.

His assaults left the woman, who was 22 at the time, so severely injured, paramedics initially thought she was dead, the Brisbane district court heard on Tuesday.

“[Crilley] subjected the [woman] to severe physical, psychological and sadistic violence,” prosecutor Sandra Cupina said.

It included violently sexually assaulting her on an almost daily basis, setting her on fire and pouring burning water on her.

Crilley also made the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, choose her method of death.

She suffered multiple broken bones, deep lacerations to her face and burns to 46% of her body.

“The tissue on part of her face was so severely infected it was also infested with maggots,” Cupina said.

“If she had not been treated in hospital she would have died.”

Crilley eventually called triple-zero before fleeing the Brisbane home where most of offending occurred.

He was taken into custody eight days later following a dramatic police chase involving several stolen cars.

Paramedics found the woman “on the brink of death” in a semi-conscious state and severely malnourished.

She was placed in an induced coma and spent eight weeks in hospital recovering, including learning to walk again. Doctors had to place metal plates into her face.

The woman later learned she had fallen pregnant to her attacker.

“I have been disfigured both mentally and physically. It is something I would not wish on my worst enemies,” she said, reading her victim impact statement to the court.

She said people now looked at her as a “monster” because of her “horrific, very visible and predominantly irreversible” injuries.

“Every time I leave my home I am stared at. I do not see myself walking down an aisle and fulfilling a woman’s dream of being married in a white gown to a man she loves,” she said.

Cupina said Crilley’s violent attacks were sustained, brutal and vicious.

“As [the woman] became more injured, [Crilley] increased the methods he was using to harm her,” she said.

“The horror [she] would have been experiencing is almost unimaginable,” she said.

Defence lawyer Malcolm Harrison said Crilley was in a methylamphetamine-induced delusional state during the prolonged assault.

He said Crilley believed the woman had been part of a drive-by shooting that targeted him, but it was not based on reality.

“This is a dreadful and extremely serious example of violence against a woman,” he said. “The offences were sadistic in nature.”

However, Harrison reminded the court Crilley had called triple-zero.

“That is probably the one factor in his favour,” he said.

Crilley will be sentenced on 1 May. The crown has asked that he be jailed for life.

• If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au

• This article was amended on 24 April 2020 to remove some details heard in court.