Jon Secull was a public White Ribbon Ambassador. Behind closed doors he acted out his sickest fantasies… Now he is avoiding a serious prison sentence for ‘deprivation’
A depraved rapist who pimped and abused his wife in the most despicable ways has had his sentence reduced because he was a former prison guard who was the subject of negative press.
Jon Seccull, 46, denied raping his then-wife Michelle Skewes – who allowed Daily Mail Australia to name her – several times between February 2014 and September 2015.
His actions were so humiliating, perverse and frightening that Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to describe them in detail.
Jon Secull and his then wife Michelle Skewes on their wedding day in 2003. The tragic death of their son years later saw them embark on an open relationship that ended in horror, a court heard.
Judge Sarah Dawes of the County Court of Victoria sentenced Secull on Wednesday to a minimum of six years and 10 months in prison. He has already spent 613 days behind bars.
In reaching her conclusion, Judge Dawes took into account the stress and anxiety Seccull felt while incarcerated at the Hopkins Correctional Center in Ararat – home to some of Australia’s worst sex predators.
Secull had worked as a correctional officer until he was charged by police in 2017 a prison ambassador for White Ribbon – an organization that campaigns against violence against women.
He also became a high-profile campaigner for organ donation after the tragic death of their son, speaking at events and to the media.
Judge Dawes, who was supported by Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions, accepted that Seccull had been subjected to intense media scrutiny for his pathological offending, which exacerbated his depression behind bars and activated Victoria’s ‘Verdins Principles’.
Under Victoria’s Sentencing Act 1991, the principles, if accepted, reduce the offender’s moral culpability and force a judge to take into account the additional “hardship” prison will impose on him.
The court heard Jon Seccull enjoyed watching his wife Michelle Skewes have sex with other men. He also enjoyed raping and tormenting her
As a prison guard, Jon Secull hid behind a veil of respect. He has now used that role to avoid spending any more time behind bars
They are principles that convicted criminals and their lawyers in Victoria apply and rely on every day
“The prosecution has no objection to the contention that prison will be more burdensome on you and I am satisfied that this applies,” Judge Dawes said.
‘I have been told that the extent of media coverage in the past has caused you great concern and has affected your mental health.
‘This is particularly relevant now as you have been acquitted of serious offenses in the current trial… I accept that the fact that you are the subject of public interest has increased the stress associated with these proceedings and the criminal process generally.’
‘I accept that the media reporting is a mitigating factor… the prosecutor accepts that the media reporting amounts to excessive punishment.’
Judge Dawes’ comments relate to Seccull’s 2021 trial, in which a jury found him guilty of nine charges of rape, two charges of assault and one charge of threatening serious harm.
He was then sentenced to 15 years behind bars, with a minimum of at least 10½ years.
Seccull appealed this outcome on the grounds that the judge had grossly interfered with the trial, which amounted to a significant miscarriage of justice.
The Victorian Court of Appeal agreed and sent him back to the County Court for a retrial.
This time the jury found Seccull guilty of just three charges of rape and one charge of threatening serious violence against Ms Skewes.
Jon Seccull raped Michelle Skewes in the most gruesome ways after returning from a trip to Queensland where he saw her having sex with a stranger, described in court
Jon Secull, 46, denied ever raping his then-wife Michelle Skewes
Both juries heard Seccull had long-held fantasies and cruel desires and arranged for his wife to meet other men for sex, where he could watch them live.
He warned her in advance not to fall in love and reminded her that she was his. If she refused, he would punish her.
The jury accepted Seccull forcibly raped Ms Skewes after she returned from a live-streamed sex session with a man in Queensland in 2014.
A year later he raped her again after a drunken argument.
It was the same year he approached her with a loaded gun and threatened to bash her head in, shoot himself in the head and allow their children to find his body.
Judge Dawes condemned Secull’s outrageous treatment of his terrified wife, who has since become a powerful public voice against domestic abuse.
“Your demeaning and volatile behavior has resulted in a significant and fundamental breach of trust,” she told the rapist.
Ms Skewes told the court her long ordeal had often left her believing she got what she deserved during her marriage, which effectively ended in 2016.
“No one really knows what happens behind closed doors.” she said. ‘I remained in a shell of who I was before and still question my worth every day.’
Outside court, Ms Skewes said she was happy to be done with the long legal proceedings.
“The sentence was better than I expected and the fact he is on the sex offenders register for life is absolutely huge,” she said.
Seccull was sentenced to a maximum sentence of nine years and nine months behind bars.