"Hi, are you walking home?"
With those seemingly friendly words, Amir Mohebbifar began a violent sexual attack on a 19-year-old woman as she walked home on the Anzac Bridge.
After drinking most of a bottle of whisky, Mohebbifar accosted the woman as she walked towards Balmain, in Sydney's inner-west, forced her into bushes and raped her just after 2am on January 16, 2014.
In the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday, Judge Donna Woodburne sentenced Mohebbifar to at least six years' jail for what she described as a serious and traumatic attack.
"To be accosted and seized and dragged off the street could only have been a terrifying experience," Judge Woodburne said.
The woman, who cannot be identified, did not give a victim impact statement to the court.
Mohebbifar, an Iranian asylum seeker who arrived in Australia by boat in March 2013, was on a bridging visa at the time of the attack.
The court heard he had become frustrated and bored in Sydney, because he found it hard making friends and was unable to work under the conditions of his visa.
"In the commission of his offence, he exhibited a sheer lack of respect and total disregard for his victim," the judge said.
"In the face of the victim's protests, screams and struggles, Mr Mohebbifar continued.
"The attack perpetrated … was an aggressive sexual attack committed on a vulnerable young woman, committed on a street at night. The Australian government … is not responsible for that. Mr Mohebbifar is, as he recognises."
Mohebbifar, who was found hiding under a car and "sweating profusely" after the attack, said was ashamed of himself and was remorseful.
He told a psychologist he lost control but stopped the attack after about 20 minutes because he knew it was wrong and "it was like a bad dream".
The court heard Mohebbifar told the psychologist: "I came to myself. My conscience came back to me and I stopped. What I was doing was not making sense to me."
The former design student grew up in a happy, warm and liberal family environment in Iran, and his actions had brought shame upon his relatives, the court heard.
"He acknowledged that in Iran, Western women are portrayed as whores, but in his family he had been taught to respect all people," Judge Woodburne said.
The court heard Mohebbifar was forced to leave Iran after being threatened and intimidated by the family of his girlfriend, who did not approve of their relationship. He was also worried about the possibility of harm against his girlfriend.
"There's a gap between the concern he felt for his Iranian girlfriend and the utter lack of concern he felt for the welfare, safety and security of his 19-year-old victim," the judge said.
Mohebbifar, who trembled and cried throughout the sentencing, had pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault.
He was sentenced to a maximum term of eight years, and will be eligible for parole in January 2020.
