Paramedic coach jailed over 'misleading a naive youth into thinking rape was part of training'

A former St John Ambulance employee who raped a 16-year-old boy in Perth more than 35 years ago has been jailed.

File image Source: AAP

A man who tricked a teenager into believing being raped was part of paramedic training has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Stuart Andrew MacFadyen, 63, was found guilty by a West Australian District Court jury this week of indecently assaulting the 16-year-old in 1980.

The victim, now aged 52, testified MacFadyen was "like a father figure" and had encouraged him to join the St John Ambulance brigade cadets.

After the teenager decided he wanted to make a career out of it, MacFadyen offered to help further train the victim and told him paramedics had to know about abuse and rape.

"He looked up to you as a father-type figure, or to fill that void in his life, and you took advantage of his naivety and vulnerability."

One time, MacFadyen forced the victim to give him oral sex and another time sexually penetrated the teenager.

Asked why he never spoke about the abuse at the time, the victim replied: "In those days no one believed you."

Judge Simon Stone said during sentencing on Thursday that MacFadyen had committed a gross breach of trust and his offending involved an element of grooming.

"He looked up to you as a father-type figure, or to fill that void in his life, and you took advantage of his naivety and vulnerability," Judge Stone said.

"It was clearly for your own sexual gratification and you misled a naive and vulnerable youth into thinking that it was part of his paramedic training."

MacFadyen will be eligible for parole after serving 15 months behind bars.