Solar Panel Installer's 'Disturbing' Attack on Elderly Woman
A prominent Australian criminal psychologist has issued a stark warning about a tradesman who sexually assaulted a grandmother while installing solar panels at her home, suggesting he could attack again following his five-year jail sentence. The case has raised serious concerns about offender rehabilitation and community safety.
The Horrific Mount Colah Assault
Indian-born Amol Vijay Dhumal, aged 45, received a five-year prison term for raping a 75-year-old woman in her Mount Colah residence in Sydney's north-west during April 2024. The electrician had initially visited the property with a colleague to install solar panels but returned alone two days later to address a power issue.
During this second visit, Dhumal made disturbing comments to the elderly victim about his marital relationship before forcibly assaulting her in her lounge room. The grandmother reportedly cried out during the attack, expressing disbelief at the unfolding horror.
Expert Analysis of a 'Dark Mind'
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro described Dhumal as possessing a "disturbing" and "evil" mentality, characterising the crime as premeditated behaviour targeting a vulnerable elderly woman living alone. "The crime was premeditated," Watson-Munro explained. "He saw an opportunity on the first occasion, he did some enquiries about who lived there, sensed her vulnerability. As far as offending goes, it really is at the high end of the spectrum."
During sentencing proceedings in December, Judge Craig Everson SC noted the "ludicrous" notion that Dhumal wasn't at risk of reoffending, particularly given his complete lack of remorse. Watson-Munro concurred with this assessment, questioning what had fundamentally changed beyond the offender's loss of liberty.
Disturbing Behaviour Patterns Revealed
The court heard disturbing details about Dhumal's initial visit to the victim's home, where he hugged her and attempted to kiss her while remarking that she reminded him of his mother. Watson-Munro suggested this might indicate unresolved psychological issues, though he emphasised the overt nature of the subsequent assault.
"Maybe he had unresolved issues concerning his mother," the psychologist speculated. "But really what he is saying in a pretty overt manner, given what he did, was that he'd like to sleep with his mother. Unless it's some perverse grooming mechanism..."
Professional and Personal Reactions
Dhumal's former employers expressed profound shock upon learning the full details of the case. A company director who requested anonymity described the tradesman as appearing to be "a very simple guy" with two young children at home. "I feel for the family - I believe his wife wasn't working at the time. It's difficult for all," the director added.
Watson-Munro noted that such crimes rarely occur spontaneously, suggesting Dhumal likely harboured these impulses before finding an opportunity to act. "He may have presented well to his employers but clearly there was something percolating in his dark mind," the psychologist observed.
Sentencing and Rehabilitation Concerns
Watson-Munro described the five-year sentence as "very kind, notwithstanding what happened," noting that offenders often receive longer penalties for similar crimes. He expressed hope that Dhumal might participate in sex offender programs during incarceration, potentially developing insight and empathy over time with regular therapeutic intervention.
The psychologist explained that such opportunistic attacks typically don't occur in isolation, with offenders often possessing troubling material on their devices and rich fantasy lives that eventually translate into real-world violence.
Victim's Ongoing Trauma
The elderly victim, too traumatised to attend court during sentencing, submitted a harrowing impact statement describing how she had been "not living, but only existing" since the assault. Despite her attacker's imprisonment, she continues to live in fear within her own home.
"This home is supposed to give me the security, peace and lasting good memories but now it is a horrific tragic place to live," she wrote. "I now bolt all the windows and doors and feel so alarmed that out there someone knows I live alone – and will just come in again and harm me."
Watson-Munro highlighted the "sad reality" that elderly people must exercise extreme caution about who they admit to their homes, particularly given rising concerns about community safety. "If you can't be safe in your own home, the takeaway for them is, where can you be safe?" he questioned.
Family Response and Legal Proceedings
Dhumal's wife attended her husband's sentencing hearing, describing him as "loving and respectful" despite declining to comment directly on the rape allegations. The offender will become eligible for parole in April 2030 and has lodged an appeal against his conviction, though he will remain incarcerated while this process unfolds.
The case continues to raise important questions about offender assessment, sentencing adequacy, and protection mechanisms for vulnerable community members who require tradespeople to enter their homes for essential services.
