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A woman who was raped and pimped out by her anti-violence campaigner ex-husband has expressed her relief as he was sentenced.
A jury in the County Court in Ballarat, Victoria, found Jon Seccull, 46, guilty of raping his then-wife Michelle Skewes – who gave Daily Mail Australia permission to name her – several times between February 2014 and September 2015.
The former White Ribbon ambassador was sentenced on Wednesday by Judge Sarah Dawes – who said Seccull had shown no remorse – to nine years and nine months in prison with a non-parole period of six years and 10 months.
Seccull’s name will also be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life after he was found guilty of three counts of rape and one charge of threats of serious violence.
“The sentence was better than I expected and the fact that he is on the sex offenders’ register for life is absolutely huge,” Ms Skewes said. Herald Sun.
Jon Seccull (pictured right) has been found guilty of raping his then wife Michelle Skewes (pictured left) several times between February 2014 and September 2015
Judge Dawes told Seccull she was ‘not able to conclude that you have any remorse whatsoever’.
“You claimed the penetration was consensual … and denied threatening her.”
The judge said Seccull’s sexual and verbal abuse was a “fundamental breach of trust” and that his behavior was “degrading and volatile”.
Seccull, who appeared via video link wearing prison garb, has already served 612 days in custody.
The sentence handed down to him comes two years after he appealed his sentence in 2021, claiming he did not get a fair trial under Judge Frank Gucciardo when he was jailed for 15 years with a non-parole period of 10 years and six months.
The court heard that Seccull and Ms Skewes would arrange for her to meet other men for sex, which was live streamed for him to watch.
“My relief is there (but) it’s also tempered because he’s already launched another appeal,” said Ms Skewes, who has given permission for her name to be used. ABC.
‘It’s a refusal to take responsibility.’
She said she intends to try to move on with her life as best she can.
“I just want to try to put it behind me and live my life without him affecting it,” Ms Skewes said.
‘The support I have received from people near and far, from people I know and don’t know, has been amazing.’
She added that she hoped others who have experienced partner violence will be able to see this result as proof that no one was ‘untouchable’.
“It may be the hardest decision they ever make, the decision to leave someone who treats you like that,” she said.
Seccull (pictured left), who appeared via video link wearing prison garb, has already served 612 days in custody. Michelle Skewes is the picture on the right
The court heard Seccull (pictured right) and Mrs Skewes (left) wanted to arrange for her to meet other men for sex, which was live streamed for him to see
‘I hope the end result … of seeing someone who seems almost untouchable (be) held accountable … helps.’
Ms Skewes said victims ‘deserve to be treated with respect and they don’t have to stay in a relationship that doesn’t give them that’.
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