Remember me
A man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and kidnapping of a sex worker has told a court he wants to express his 'sympathies' to her.
Paul Sargon Kelaita, 50, pleaded guilty on October 1, 2025, to ten charges laid against him, including three counts of aggravated sexual assault, one count of taking another with the intention of causing fear or mental harm, and two counts of intimidation.
He also admitted guilt to two counts of sexual touching without consent, one count of inciting another to sexually touch him without consent, and a further count of intimidation.
Kelaita is due to be sentenced next week and, during a hearing via audio-visual link on Friday, he begged to apologise to the victim, news.com.au reports.
'I need to see her. Is she still in court?' he said during cross-examination by the prosecution.
'I can't express my sympathies to you. You're not [the victim]. I shouldn't have done that. And I'm sorry for it.'
The Crown prosecutor said: 'That's because you'd like to see her again, isn't it?'
Kelaita told the court the victim could just 'listen' to his apology on an audio-visual link, adding: 'Is she listening now? I'll talk to her right now. I don't need to see her.'
The outburst in court comes just months after he suddenly pleaded guilty three days into a trial expected to last at least seven days.
Paul Sargon Kelaita pleaded guilty last year to the sexual assault and kidnapping of a sex worker who only managed to escape by jumping from a moving vehicle
In court on Friday, Kelaita said he needed to see his victim in order to apologise
In November 2023, he had lured a then-30-year-old sex worker to a rented granny flat in Killarney Vale, north-east of Gosford on the NSW Central Coast, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
She only managed to escape Kelaita's clutches after throwing herself from a moving vehicle and desperately approaching a bystander for help.
Kelaita's arrest made national headlines and followed an hour-long chase through the affluent eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi.
Police traced him to the beachside Adina Apartments, ten days after the brutal assault and kidnapping, where he jumped from a second-storey balcony.
He leaped over several fences during the chase while being pursued by officers, including the dog squad and a police helicopter.
Officers handcuffed the then-48-year-old on a nearby rooftop and frogmarched him in a pair of maroon rugby league shorts before a crowd of stunned onlookers.
He was taken to Waverley Police Station and has remained in police custody since.
Kelaita's arrest made national headlines and followed an hour-long foot chase through the affluent eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi
Read More Monster who lured sex worker to home so he could rape drops a sensational court bombshell
During last year's trial, the prosecution told the court Kelaita had assumed a false identity in making the appointment with the sex worker.
She had previously cut ties with him following an initial paid sexual encounter weeks earlier.
Upon arrival at the Killarney Vale property, Kelaita forced the woman inside the flat and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
The pair left the scene in the woman's car. As they drove, she managed to leap from the moving car, sustaining injuries.
On Friday, Kelaita said he now wanted to 'help' the woman, but NSW District Court Judge David Wilson SC said he had a 'complete lack of insight'.
'My impression of your client's offending is that he felt a very unhealthy obsession with the victim,' the judge said.
'I don't think your client has demonstrated any remorse. In his evidence … he appears to me to be blaming the victim.'
The matter is next set to go before the courts when Kelaita is sentenced on March 27.
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