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A MAN dubbed the hot chocolate rapist was jailed today for nine years by a Melbourne judge who said his crimes were "offensive, repugnant and intelorable in any society''. Judge Paul Lacava told Harry Barkas, 48, that his three victims, who were doped and raped while unconscious or semi-conscious, were left devastated by his crimes. In a victim impact statement, one of the women said she felt "violated, betrayed and sometimes dead''. Barkas, of South Yarra, could be freed in just over six years because of time served but it is believed he left many more victims in his wake. Charges over 24 of the hot chocolate rapes of the early 1990s originally laid against Barkas fell over when the case reached court in 2008. In a plea bargain, he pleaded to just three rapes, committed in 1991, between 2002 and 2003, and between 2004 and 2005. One of the victims said she was friends with Barkas but was never sexually attracted to him. One night they went back to his parents' home where they had a drink. She next remembered waking up half-naked, feeling drowsy and with Barkas on top of her, raping her. Judge Lacava said that all three victims were known to Barkas but they had hazy or little recollections of what occurred because they were drugged, probably with Rohypnol. Barkas was best mates with one of Australia's worst rapists - John Xydias - who filmed himself raping 11 drugged women. The pair shared more than an enduring friendship - they trawled nightclubs together for prey, introduced victims to each other and perfected identical routines, drugging women's drinks before raping them. Xydias was jailed last year for 28 years with a minimum of 20 for his crimes. Judge Lacava told Barkas that despite his guilty pleas he was still in denial and refused to accept responsibility for his offending. When police raided Barkas's home they found a variety of prescription drugs, including the "date rape'' drug Rohypnol. In his County Court sentence, the judge said the fact that the women were violated when they were drugged made the offending very serious and was an aggravating factor. He ordered that Barkas be deemed a serious sexual offender and be placed on a sex offenders' register. The judge set a maximum term of 13-and-a-half years. Barkas and Xydias, both from respectable families hailing from the same part of Greece, were so close they called each other "cousin''. Herald Sun (12-5-2010) Norrie Ross |
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A MAN once dubbed the hot chocolate rapist has finally confessed to a string of sickening rapes. Harry Barkas, 47, was best friends with one of Australia's worst rapists, John Xydias, who filmed himself raping 11 drugged women. The pair shared more than an enduring friendship - they trawled nightclubs together for prey, introduced victims to each other and perfected identical routines, drugging women's drinks before raping them. They're believed to have discussed and devised their sick techniques, and started offending about the same time. Barkas, from Melbourne, was accused of sexually assaulting six women but, on the eve of his trial, pleaded guilty to raping three victims. A plea deal was apparently struck with the blessing of the victims, to spare them long, distressing trials. Charges against Barkas over 24 rapes in the early 90s fell over when the case reached court in 2008. Xydias's arrest in 2007 after horrific videos of his crimes were unearthed at his parents' home led police to Barkas. Xydias was jailed last year for 28 years with a minimum of 20 for his crimes. The rapists, both from respectable families hailing from the same part of Greece, were so close they called each other "cousin". They also shared a sick secret - some attacks were carried out in the homes of their parents while they were at home asleep. It's believed they hunted victims at city venues including Billboard from 1991-2005. Xydias introduced to Barkas acquaintances who were later drugged and raped, and vice-versa. When police raided Barkas's South Yarra home they found a variety of drugs, believed to include the "date rape" drug Rohypnol. One of the women he admitted raping reported the crime in 1991 but withdrew her claim. In her police statement she said she was never attracted to him sexually, but one night went back to his parents' home where they had a drink. She next remembered waking up half-naked, feeling drowsy and with Barkas on top of her, raping her. After she reported the matter to the police drug tests showed she had Rohypnol in her system, a drug she had never taken. "I thought this drug had got into my system as a result of Harry giving me something," she said. "I believe Harry drugged me." Barkas was dubbed the hot chocolate rapist because he asked two of his victims if they wanted a hot chocolate from a service station. He pleaded guilty to three rapes this week and will face the County Court in Melbourne on March 29 for a pre-sentence plea hearing. Herald Sun (25-2-2010) Norrie Ross/ Elissa Hunt |
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DOZENS of charges against a man accused of a string of rapes have been dropped by prosecutors. Harry Barkas, 46, is still facing 21 offences over alleged sex attacks. But this morning when Mr Barkas faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Magistrate Duncan Reynolds was told 59 other charges would be withdrawn. Mr Barkas, who is in custody, was accused of spiking the drinks of 30 victims and sexually assaulting them between 1990 and 2005. But it is understood that most of the charges dropped today relate to incidents where victims were allegedly given hot chocolate drinks after leaving city nightclubs. A preliminary hearing on the remaining charges is continuing with several of his alleged victims due to give evidence against him by video-link. www.news.com.au (28-7-2008) Elissa Hunt |
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A MAN accused of sex attacks on 24 women, including a string of offences dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes, made a brief appearance in a Melbourne court today. Harry William Barkas, 45, of South Yarra, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on 61 charges relating to a series of rapes over 15 years. Prosecutor Moya O'Brien told the court police needed more time to interview witnesses and follow up calls from the public. "Four of the 24 victims are overseas," Ms O'Brien told the court. "There are also a potential two victims which need to be spoken to." Magistrate Frank Hodgens remanded Mr Barkas in custody until December 14. Police allege Mr Barkas used drugs to sedate his victims before raping or trying to rape them. Mr Barkas, who lives with his mother, was the subject of two separate investigations by sexual crime squad detectives. The first investigation involved alleged incidents with five separate women, between 1990 and 2005. Mr Barkas has been charged with four counts of rape, one of indecent assault, five counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration and one count each of using and trafficking cannabis. From the second investigation, which spans the period from 1995 to 1998 and involves 18 alleged victims, he faces four more charges of rape, eight of assault with intent to rape, 19 counts of abduction and 18 counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration. These alleged incidents have been dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes. An out-of-sessions hearing last night was told Mr Barkas offered lifts to woman pedestrians, either alone or in pairs, in the early hours of the morning in the CBD and inner suburbs. He allegedly bought food or beverages - hot chocolate in all but two cases - laced with unknown drugs that made the women lose consciousness, drove them to other locations and raped or sexually assaulted them. www.news.com.au (24-8-2007 |
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TWO women have spoken out about their close encounter with the serial sex offender known as the "Hot Chocolate Rapist". Friends Sophie and Rachel told how they escaped the feared deviant when he offered them a lift home after a night out at the Marquee nightclub, South Melbourne, in 1997. The rapist, believed to have been responsible for 22 sex attacks, asked the women if they wanted a hot chocolate from a service station. When the friends said they had no money, their well-dressed, smooth-talking driver said he would pay, but laced the drinks with drugs while he was inside. Sophie passed out after drinking hers. Rachel, who does not like hot chocolate, noticed that the driver was becoming upset at her unwillingness to drink. The man helped Rachel walk Sophie towards their home after they pulled up in his car. As they got into an elevator, Rachel realised that the man was groping Sophie, and pushed him from the lift. "It's not a nice feeling, knowing he's still out there," Sophie said. Police say they have new leads in the case after two anonymous calls to Crime Stoppers. Acting Det-Insp Chris O'Connor, of the sexual crimes squad, said officers believed the rapist, who attacked 22 women in 1995-1998, had a medical background and access to pharmaceuticals. The women said they were taken by surprise by the man, who did not come across as sleazy and pretended that he worked at a city firm where they knew people. "He was so cunning," Sophie said. "He didn't look like a rapist. He didn't look like what a rapist could look like. He got us unawares." The women reported the incident eight months afterward, after seeing media coverage of the Hot Chocolate Rapist. "We thought we were safe. And you can't take that sort of thing for granted," Sophie said. Rachel said that she wanted to go public and help to solve the case to be a role model for her young daughters. Both urged unknown victims of the rapist, or anyone else with information, to come forward. Det-Insp O'Connor said the rapist may have a Jekyll and Hyde personality and appear normal at home. He said public information was needed to help solve the case. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers 1800 333 000. Herald Sun (1-8-2007) Mark Buttler |
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