Magistrate under investigation over comments to alleged rape victim

A magistrate has been referred for investigation over comments he made to an alleged rape victim.

Magistrate Richard Pithouse told the complainant, “Penny”, she was suffering from “buyer’s remorse” and that she can’t “profit from her own malfeasance”.

Attorney-­General Jill Hennessy referred Mr Pithouse, saying the comments are “not in line with community expectations and caused ­distress to sexual assault survivors”.

Herald Sun crime reporter Andrea Hamblin has been following the case for around a year, and told Justin Smith that Penny was “extremely distressed” by the comments.

“She’s really buoyed by the support,” Ms Hamblin said on Friday.

“It’s been quite a rough trot since the incident that she alleges happened in March last year.

“Understandably a very distressing situation, compounded by this exchange.

Ms Hamblin said this is not the first time concerns have been raised about Mr Pithouse’s behaviour.

Click PLAY for the full interview