Man who planned to use ‘rape kit’ gets 12 years

A MAN who planned to rape the first woman he came across with a “rape kit” has received a 12-year sentence.

Russell Murray’s kit, which he carried in his rucksack, contained three cut strips of duct tape, a dog lead, cord, a red saw handle, Vaseline and toilet roll.

The final three years of his sentence were suspended on condition he enter into a bond never to contact his victim again and comply with eight years’ post-release supervision.

The 33-year-old, who also secretly filmed footage under the skirts of women in Galway city, was only prevented from carrying out his rape, in April 2009, when his victim managed to take off his balaclava during a struggle.

His victim, a Polish woman then aged 24, said in a victim impact statement that she suffered from post-traumatic stress.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said Murray’s crimes could be considered to be at the lower end of the scale given his “attack collapsed at first show” due to his victim’s resistance.

But he concluded his crimes were at the upper end, on the basis of his “preparations and intentions”, which he disclosed during Garda questioning.

Mr Justice Carney said Murray told gardaí his intention was to “grab a girl, the first girl who came along” and that he had come prepared with, what the judge described as a “rape kit”.

The judge declared Murray a sex offender. He suspended three years due to an early plea of guilty, no previous convictions and admissions to gardaí.