Child rapist Dandrick Cherel receives an extra six months to existing sentence for threatening to harm partner

The convicted child rapist who was charged with threatening to harm his former partner last year while on bail for the historical rape of a seven-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to the allegations, adding an extra six months to his 6 1/2 year sentence. Dandrick James Lee Cherel appeared via video link from custody in Broome Magistrates Court last Monday, charged with one count of threatening to harm in circumstances of aggravation and one count of breaching a family violence restraining order. The court heard the 32-year-old visited his former partner’s home at around 2am on February 11 last year while on bail, threatening to bash the door down if she did not open it, yelling at her: “I’ll break your jaw if you don’t open the door”. He then grabbed a shovel and an iron rake, spearing it through the flyscreen door and threatening to burn the car and house down. Once she appeared outside, he shoved her hard on the shoulders and entered the house, causing her to vomit because of her stress. The victim drove to her sister’s house to call police, who later arrested Cherel back at her home. Cherel appeared in Broome District Court earlier this month with five counts of indecent dealing and sexual penetration of a child, pleading guilty to the allegations and sentenced to 6 1/2 years jail. The Broome Advertiser previously reported Cherel had been free to camp on the banks of the Fitzroy River with his partner and young child while on bail due to being unable to find permanent residence because of the Broome rental crisis. Magistrates Dean Potter added an extra six months to his current jail sentence for unrelated charges and eligibility for parole. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)