A tradesman described as 'evil' by his victim has been sentenced to prison for the calculated rape of a 75-year-old woman in her own home, after blaming his own wife for a lack of sex.
A Predatory Plan Unfolds
Amol Vijay Dhumal, a 45-year-old electrician, was sent to the woman's home in Mount Colah, north-western Sydney, on 22 April 2024 to install solar panels. During the visit, he asked the pensioner if she lived alone. After she confirmed she did, he hugged her and tried to kiss her, claiming she reminded him of his mother. She rejected him and told him to leave.
Dhumal returned two days later, on the pretext of fixing a power issue. He then asked probing questions about her children and how often they visited. Judge Craig Everson SC later stated he was satisfied these questions were asked to ascertain his chances of being caught. Dhumal told the woman his wife never had sex with him before grabbing the 75-year-old and attempting to drag her to a bedroom.
A Brutal Assault and Lasting Trauma
When the victim responded, "You've got to be kidding," Dhumal attacked and raped her in her lounge room, causing her physical injury. The woman was too traumatised to attend court for her attacker's sentencing last week but submitted a powerful victim impact statement.
She wrote that she had been "not living, but only existing" since the attack, describing it as "the most torturous tragedy of my life." The victim said she now lives in fear, bolting all windows and doors, feeling her home has been transformed from a place of security into a "horror tragic place." She has withdrawn from volunteer work and community life she once cherished.
Remorseless Offender Faces Justice
During the trial, Dhumal's wife, Gauri, gave evidence describing her husband as "loving and respectful," but the jury found him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent in September. Dhumal showed no remorse, telling police the victim was a liar trying to set him up.
Judge Everson sentenced Dhumal to five years in prison, with eligibility for parole in April 2030. The judge noted the offender's denial and lack of remorse suggested a risk of reoffending, calling it "ludicrous" to think otherwise. Amol Vijay Dhumal has lodged an appeal against his conviction and will remain in jail until it is determined.
