Chad James Broad: Geraldton man handed more than seven years in jail for raping child at Batavia Motor Inne

A Geraldton man has been jailed for almost eight years after raping a 12-year-old girl at a notorious derelict motel in the Geraldton CBD. Chad James Broad, 48, pleaded guilty in November to two charges including sexual penetration of a child under 13, one of several unrelated sexual assaults alleged to have occurred at the site of the Batavia Motor Inne. The court was told in March 2023, three men including Broad, co-offender George Windie, and a third man approached the 12-year-old victim at the Geraldton foreshore. It was heard the victim had run away from home following an argument, when she was offered alcohol by the men. The court was told the victim became intoxicated, before Broad and Windie took her to the Batavia Motor Inne, where a homeless Broad had been staying. CCTV footage seen by the court showed the victim stumbling as a result of being intoxicated. It was at the derelict motel where the offences took place, with the court hearing Broad on two occasions sexually penetrated the victim, who vomited as a result. Windie was previously sentenced to two years and three months behind bars for his involvement. Broad’s lawyer argued his alcohol consumption, his ongoing mental health concerns, and his schizophrenia were all factors to consider in his sentencing. The court was told Broad had also been intoxicated, estimating to be drinking one to two bottles of wine per day for the two weeks leading up to the offence. He also had drug issues, where any extra income went towards purchasing cannabis or methylamphetamine. Broad has a history of violence, but his lawyer argued those offences were different in nature to the ones he was being sentenced for, and his plea of guilty and cooperation with police should be considered. State prosecutors argued the circumstances, in which the victim was vulnerable both in age and due to intoxication, were aggravating factors. The State also argued there was a lack of remorse from Broad, which was put down to by Broad’s lawyer as a poor ability to communicate due to his mental condition. In her sentencing, District Court judge Felicity Zempilas said the only mitigating factor was the plea of guilty, which prevented the victim from having to relive the incident. Ms Zempilas referred to the victim’s PTSD as a result of the incident, saying she experienced nightmares and paranoia as a result of the incident. Broad was sentenced to seven years and eight months behind bars and will be eligible for parole after serving five years and eight months. He has already served nearly two years and two months, meaning Broad could be freed on parole in November 2028. Upon exiting the court, Broad told security officers he “needed a smoke”. The bulk of the Batavia Motor Inne was demolished in late 2023, with the last remaining building redeveloped into short-stay apartments.