Accused gets five year jail term for raping woman in Adelaide Aquatic Centre spa

A man who raped a sleeping woman in the spa pool at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre spa has been sentenced to five years in prison, with the judge warning "like-minded men" needed to be warned that anyone who sexually assaulted a woman in that way would be jailed.

Hayas Kardo, aged 63, was found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting a women in a spa in September 2018.

Named in an ABC report, she had gone to the Adelaide Aquatic Centre to relax after working long hours as a head chef.

As she started relaxing in the corner of the spa, she fell asleep.

The rape incident, recorded by CCTV, showed Kardo edging closer towards her in the spa over the next 40 minutes, before she awoke after feeling Kardo raping her.

Speaking during sentencing today, Judge Liesl Chapman advised "you watched her leave the spa and then you left the spa; you did not stop to put your shoes on.

"You got a towel from your backpack and put it over your head.

"That was an odd thing to do given that your head had not been under the water.

"I find that you were trying to hide knowing full well what you had just done."

Judge Chapman said Kardo - who continued to deny the crime - was motivated by personal sexual gratification.

She said it was concerning he had denied his offending and had no empathy towards the victim but believed he had still learnt a lesson and was a low risk of re-offending.

Judge Chapman went on to say "you have not admitted your offending, that may be because you feel you'd lose the support of your community by making such an admission.

"Going to trial meant that (the victim) had to relive the events of that day again and again.

"She would love to hear you apologise for what you did."

Judge Chapman said the head sentence of five years' jail and non-parole period of two years and four months needed to deter "like-minded men".

She added "all women are entitled to feel safe and be safe in public and private places.

"The message is that a man will go to jail if he sexually assaults a woman in this way."

The District Court heard the victim had worked her way up to become a head chef but could no longer hold down a part-time job due to the "crippling anxiety and panic attacks" she now suffered as a result of the rape.

Judge Chapman praised her, going on to say "you are a strong woman and we need all the strong women out there that we can get.

"Your ability to achieve your career as a head chef is really impressive.

"I hope you can get back there."

She said Kardo - who arrived in Australia as a refugee - had been a "productive Australian citizen with a strong work ethic".

Before his arrest, he was a taxi driver in Adelaide and the president of the SA Kurdistan Association for more than 10 years.

Kardo - whose sentence was backdated to November last year - will be eligible for parole in two years.

Lower image shows the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.