A Dublin man who kidnapped four women, sexually assaulted three of them and hijacked a car has been jailed for nine years by Mr Justice Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
Robert Melia (35), of Kilmore Road, Coolock, was jailed in 1991 for six years for rape and is now serving concurrent five- and four-year sentences imposed in October 1998 for robbery.
One of his victims, who had given evidence of the traumatic effect his attack had had on her life, shouted "Yes, this is what I wanted" in court after Mr Justice Carney imposed four concurrent nine-year sentences and concurrent three-year sentences.
Three of Melia's victims were working as prostitutes. Melia posed as an English visitor and as a football fan in Dublin for an All-Ireland semi-final when he approached the women. In each case he agreed a fee with them for sexual services but tied them up and forced them to lie face down on the ground while he sexually assaulted them.
Melia pleaded guilty in December to three charges of aggravated sexual assault and of false imprisonment of the women on September 28th, October 19th and October 21st, 1997. He also admitted stealing cash and other property from them and assault causing harm to one of them.
He also pleaded guilty to having a knife with intent to cause injury on November 1st, 1997, and with hijacking a car, kidnapping the driver and stealing property.
Mr Justice Carney Said the fact that three of the victims were prostitutes was not a matter for the court. He suspended the final year of the sentence because Melia had announced his intention of pleading guilty.
Det Sgt Flor Murphy told Mr Eamon Leahy SC, prosecuting, that the incident concerning Melia's first victim on September 28th, 1997, was not reported to gardai at the time but came to light as a result of an investigation into similar incidents.
Melia posed as a football supporter when he went with his first victim on foot to Misery Hill, off Pearse Street, to have sex. When they arrived, he grabbed her from behind and tied her hands and legs together using her handbag straps.
He threatened to use a knife, but no knife was produced, and placed her face down on the ground before pushing her face into the mud. Melia then sat on the woman's back and sexually assaulted her by rubbing himself up and down her back. He also stole £70 from her bag. The victim was severely traumatised.
Det Sgt Murphy said that on October 14th, 1997, Melia posed as an English visitor and, like the first incident, tied up his victim at Lavery Court after stealing £50 from her. He forced her to crawl under a car and urinated on her. He left her there for about 10 minutes but returned, caught her by the legs and pulled her out from under the car. He kicked her in the side and used a piece of glass to scratch her buttock. He also bit her, threatened her and stole her handbag.
Det Sgt Murphy said Melia again posed as an English visitor when he threatened to kill his third victim on October 21st, 1997, at Kirwan Court, near Kilmainham Garda station. He also tied up this woman and sexually assaulted her. Melia used a knife to nick her face and also stole jewellery and cash.
Extra Garda patrols were put on duty in the "red light" areas after the attacks, and on November 21st, 1997, two detectives saw Melia talking to a prostitute at Lad Lane.
Det Sgt Murphy said when gardai searched him a knife was recovered. They arrested Melia, and the investigation into the attacks was focused on him. He was picked out by two of his victims in an identity parade.
Det Sgt Murphy said jewellery and items stolen from the women were recovered in a flat occupied by Melia in Fairview.
The court also heard how Melia forced another woman into her car on October 10th, 1997, and ordered her to drive to Swords, where he tied her to the car seat. He pushed something into her side but the woman could not be sure if it was a knife. She managed to push the car horn and Melia ran off.