10 years for rapist who refused to use condom

A hair stylist who attacked prostitutes in one-woman brothels was jailed for 10 years yesterday.

In sentencing Liu Man-fung in the Court of First Instance, Deputy High Court Judge Alan Wright said Liu's refusal to wear a condom was an aggravating feature in the rapes of two women.

'Just as every woman, including a sex worker, has the absolute right to share her body, every woman, including a sex worker, has the absolute right to protect themselves, especially in the current climate of concern on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases,' Deputy Judge Wright said.

Evidence was given that in one attack the victim pleaded for him to wear a condom, while in the other the judge said that 'it was highly unlikely [that he wore a condom] due to the nature of the attack'.

The court was told Liu committed the crimes between August 21 and October 11 last year. He was arrested when the second victim called police as he returned to her flat.

Liu yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one of theft and one of attempted robbery. He was sentenced to six years on each rape count, eight months for theft and two years, eight months for attempted robbery.