'Sexual predator' jailed after 'brazen' apartment building attacks

A north Queensland judge has described a former Townsville property manager as a sexual predator who "used and abused" his victims.

Alexander James Macdonald Terry, 69, was today sentenced in Townsville District Court after a jury last month found him guilty of 13 offences including rape, sexual assault and burglary.

The court heard impact statements from three victims, outlining the physical, emotional and financial impacts they suffered from what Judge Jennifer Rosengren called "brazen" offending for Terry's own sexual gratification.

Four women accused Terry of rape and sexual assault between 2017 and 2023.

'I want to scream'

The victims, some from overseas who spoke English as a second language, described their lasting fear, shame, and impacted self-worth.

They also described the effect the offending had on their health, ability to retain employment and maintain relationships with men.

"Life was difficult. I felt very scared. I slept very little," one victim said.

"After what he did to me, I felt so angry and sad. I felt depressed, and I asked myself, 'Why did I come here to this country? I thought this was a safe country?'"

"I was afraid to leave my house," another victim said.

"When I see someone who looks like him, I want to scream and run away because I'm scared."

"He is not a good man. He did very bad things to me," the third victim said.

'Calculating' conduct

Judge Rosengren noted the victims were vulnerable, with some experiencing cultural and language barriers.

She said that they were taken advantage of and violated by Terry.

Terry was found to have sexually assaulted the women at his home, his rental property and at units within the apartment complex he managed, using his master key to gain entry.

He was found guilty of one count of rape, 10 counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault with a circumstance of aggravation and one count of burglary by breaking.

He was found not guilty of one count of burglary by breaking and one count of sexual assault.

No remorse shown

During sentencing, Judge Rosengren said Terry did not show one "ounce of remorse" for his "calculated" conduct.

She said his offending was serious and undermined the "fabric of our society".

She ordered that Terry be jailed for nine years, which included a three-year sentence for the sexual assault with the circumstance of aggression charge.

Terry was supported in court by his wife.

Judge Rosengren said Terry would be eligible to apply for parole when half the sentence was served.