The privileged life of Tom Silvagni, son of Australian football royalty, has been violently exchanged for a prison cell after he was sentenced for the rape of his friend's girlfriend. The 23-year-old was handed a maximum term of six years and two months in jail by the Victorian County Court on Wednesday, following his conviction on two counts of rape.
A Night of Deception and Assault
The attack occurred in the early hours of January 14, 2024, within a bedroom of the Silvagni family's mansion in Balwyn North, owned by his famous parents, AFL legend Stephen Silvagni and television host Jo Silvagni. The court heard the victim had arrived at the house after midnight, having been invited by the accused's own girlfriend.
After a drinking session, only Silvagni, his model girlfriend Alannah Iaconis, his former best friend Anthony LoGuidice, and the victim remained. The jury was told the victim had consensual sex with Mr LoGuidice, a close relation of former Carlton president Mark LoGuidice, in an upstairs bedroom. He later left in an Uber shortly before 2am.
Seizing the opportunity, Silvagni then deceived the woman, falsely claiming Mr LoGuidice's Uber had been cancelled and that he would be returning. Instead, Silvagni entered the darkened bedroom himself, climbed into the bed and impersonated his friend before digitally raping the woman twice, continuing over her protests.
A Victim's Harrowing Testimony
Last Friday, Silvagni, seated in Melbourne Assessment Prison wearing prison greens, listened as his victim delivered a searing impact statement. The woman, who cannot be named, described the premeditated and calculated nature of the attack and its devastating, lifelong consequences.
"You can continue denying for the rest of your life, but we both know that deep down, you are very much aware of what you did to me that night," she told him directly. "What you did was not a mistake. It was premeditated... Your actions that night have changed the way I trust, the way I sleep and the way I move through the world now."
She revealed she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of the rape, suffering nightmares, flashbacks, and an inability to be hugged by her own father. "Every day of my life I am taken back to that vision. You holding my hands behind my back where you got some kind of deep satisfaction out of immobilising me and raping me," she said.
Lack of Remorse and Family Stance
Judge Greg Lyon condemned Silvagni's use of "cunning, planning and strategy" to deceive the victim and noted his complete lack of remorse. He also described Silvagni's treatment of his lifelong friend Anthony LoGuidice as "utterly appalling," referencing attempts to shift blame.
During proceedings, Silvagni blamed mental health issues on the stress of the rape charges and Covid lockdowns, and claimed he felt 'hopeless' comparing his football talent to his father and brothers, Jack and Ben. He also asserted his suffering was greater due to his parents' fame.
His famous parents were notably absent for much of the victim's statement. When Jo Silvagni entered the courtroom, she was observed glaring at the victim. After the sentencing, Stephen Silvagni, breaking down in tears, questioned the victim's credibility and vowed to appeal. "We all love and support our son Tom. Our son continues to maintain his innocence and we stand firmly behind him," he said.
Judge Lyon set a non-parole period of three years and three months. He praised media coverage of the case as objective and accurate, as Silvagni begins his sentence behind the walls he once seemed insulated from.
