Two-year sentence for man who assaulted woman while she was intoxicated

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman he was supposed to drive home safely in 2022.

John Michael Isaac was found guilty by a jury in December 2025 on two counts of serious indecency. The incident occurred after the victim had attended a fete with friends where she consumed alcohol and became intoxicated.

Isaac had agreed to drive the woman and two of her friends home at the end of the event. After dropping off the other passengers, he stopped at the back of a bank where he engaged in sexual activity with the woman without her consent. He was later arrested and charged and after a trial, a jury convicted him of serious indecency which does not include intercourse.

During sentencing, prosecutors presented aggravating factors including the victim’s intoxicated state at the time of the assault, the prevalence of such offences, and Isaac’s lack of remorse. A victim impact statement showed the woman had been traumatized by the assault, experiencing mental instability, feelings of mistrust, and social isolation.

The defence presented character references from family, friends, and former employers who described Isaac as respectful, kind, courteous, loving, and industrious. His lawyer also cited his difficult upbringing and requested the court impose a fine instead of prison time.

The judge said the court wanted to send a message to society that opportunistic offending of this nature will be viewed and dealt with seriously.

Isaac received two years imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. The 48 days he spent on remand will be deducted from his sentence. Serious indecency carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.