A MAN who abducted and raped a blind woman walking with a white cane on her first solo shopping outing will spend at least 11 years behind bars.

A MAN who abducted and raped a blind woman walking with a white cane on her first solo shopping outing will spend at least 11 years behind bars.

Yaser El-Waly, 31, of NSW, was linked to the terrifying attack on July 20, 2006, by DNA matched to an interstate police database.

El-Waly's 20-year-old victim, who is legally blind, was on her first ever solo outing to the supermarket when he spotted her from his car as he drove along Cheltenham Rd in Keysborough.

County Court Judge Gerard Mullaly said El-Waly drove down the wrong side of a service road to catch up with her and then pretended to be from a nearby care facility to gain her trust.

El-Waly bundled the woman into the car and took her to a deserted housing estate where he raped her.

Judge Mullaly said it was impossible to imagine the fear of the blind woman as she was bundled into the car unable to see the stranger abducting then attacking her.

After the attack, the victim, who has partial sight in one eye, led police to the site, where they found El-Waly's DNA, later matched with a sample on the WA police database.

El-Waly had previously been convicted of indecent assault in WA in 2002, Judge Mullaly said.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said she was traumatised, paranoid and suicidal from the attack.

Judge Mullaly said El-Waly had told a police officer he had gone out on the day of the attack looking to have sex with someone.

"There can be no doubt that your crimes have devastated her," he said.

Judge Mullaly said El-Waly's offending was very serious and the courts had a responsibility to protect the public by removing him from the community for some time.

El-Waly was found guilty by a jury of the rape and abduction of his victim.

Judge Mullaly sentenced him to a maximum of 13 years and six months in jail, with a period of 11 years to be served before he is eligible for parole.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/yaser-el-waly-jailedl-for-raping-blind-woman/story-e6frf7kx-1225966643646