'Inner west rapist' jailed for decades-old sex assaults

A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting four women more than 20 years ago. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE)

A man once dubbed the "inner west rapist" will spend the next decade behind bars after being linked to a string of attacks in the mid-2000s through family DNA.

Darren Kennedy was sentenced to a non-parole period of 13 years for sexually assaulting four women in suburban Sydney between December 2003 and March 2004.

The 54-year-old watched on via a video-link as Judge Jennie Girdham handed down her sentence at Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

Kennedy pleaded guilty in May 2023 to a string of offences, including multiple counts of breaking and entering, rape and indecent assault.

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

A police strike force was established in March 2004 to investigate attacks spread across a range of suburbs, including Croydon and Marrickville in Sydney's inner west and Bondi in the east.

But the probe was suspended in 2005 after they were unable to track the offender down.

Three of the women were attacked in their homes, while another had been on her way to her house when she was assailed at night.

The case was reopened in February 2020 and a forensic review in November 2021 traced the attacks to Kennedy through a family DNA match to matter retrieved from several of the crime scenes.

He was arrested at his home five days later and has remained in custody ever since.

All of the victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 51, were vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, Judge Girdham said.

They were left "humiliated and degraded" in the attacks, she added.

"The offending was abhorrent - it was cruel and dehumanising," Judge Girdham said.

"To reflect the actual harm caused (in a sentence) imposes an impossible task."

In victim-impact statements, some of the women variously described struggling with post-traumatic stress and ongoing problems with trusting people 20 years later.

In a letter addressed to the court, Kennedy apologised to the victims, describing his own actions as "deplorable and monstrous" and adding that his thoughts were "ragged and broken" at the time of the offences. 

Judge Girdham noted that Kennedy was struggling to cope with his own traumatic past of childhood abuse and that his earlier experiences distorted his views of sexuality.

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

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store