‘Inner West rapist’ Darren Kennedy convicted of sexually assaulting several women in Sydney

A man once dubbed the “Inner West Rapist” will spend the next decade behind bars after his family’s DNA linked him to a series of attacks in the mid-2000s.

Darren Kennedy was sentenced to 13 years in prison without parole for sexually assaulting four women in a Sydney suburb between December 2003 and March 2004.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Serial rapist learns what brutal attacks he faces.

Stay up to date with the latest news with the 7NEWS app: download it today

The 54-year-old watched via video link as Judge Jennie Girdham announced her verdict at Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

Kennedy pleaded guilty in May 2023 to a series of crimes, including multiple counts of burglary, rape and sexual assault.

Girdham also included possession of child abuse material as a separate offense in her sentence after 174 videos and 43 images were found on his phone following his arrest.

In March 2004, a police task force was set up to investigate the attacks in several suburbs, including Croydon and Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west and Bondi in the east.

However, the investigation was closed in 2005 after they failed to find the perpetrator.

Three of the women were attacked in their homes, while another was on her way home when she was attacked at night.

The case was reopened in February 2020, and a forensic investigation in November 2021 traced the attacks to Kennedy by comparing the family’s DNA with material recovered from several crime scenes.

Five days later, he was arrested at home and has been in custody ever since.

All of the victims, aged between 17 and 51, were defenseless and unable to defend themselves, Girdham said.

They were “humiliated and degraded” by the attacks, she added.

“The offence was heinous – it was cruel and dehumanising,” said Judge Girdham.

“To describe the actual damage caused (in one sentence) is an impossible task.”

In their victim impact statements, some of the women described struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and still having trouble trusting people 20 years later.

In a letter to the court, Kennedy apologized to the victims, described his own actions as “regrettable and monstrous” and added that his mind was “shattered and broken” at the time of the crimes.

Girdham found that Kennedy was struggling with his own traumatic past of child abuse and that his previous experiences had distorted his views on sexuality.

Kennedy was sentenced to a maximum term of 17 years and four months in prison. He will be eligible for parole in November 2034.

If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

In case of emergency, call 000.

Advice and support for men concerned about domestic violence: Men’s Referral Service1300 766 491.

READ MORE