A 40-year-old man appeared in court for sentencing on 16 charges, including persistent sexual abuse of a child. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to child sex abuse and incest.
A Canberra man acted “frequently and persistently” in abusing a stepdaughter, a court has heard during sentencing.
The man first met the victim when she was a young child, with the offending starting when she was around 11 and continuing for years.
Region is unable to name him for legal reasons.
During sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (24 October), Justice David Mossop described the 40-year-old’s behaviour as an “exploitation of the parental relationship”.
He said much of the abuse occurred when the man would go into his stepdaughter’s bedroom while she pretended to be asleep.
In a jury trial earlier this year, the man was found guilty of 16 charges, including multiple counts of incest, persistent sexual abuse of a child and committing an act of indecency.
The court heard that she would tell her mother about the abuse when she was a teenager, after which the offender briefly moved out.
It resumed after he returned home, with the victim reporting that the assaults would occur “at least once a week”.
Justice Mossop said the offending continued until shortly after her 18th birthday, when the 40-year-old abused her after a family gathering.
“It was this incident and the offender’s conduct afterwards [that] ultimately led to her making a complaint to police,” he said.
During court proceedings, the victim detailed how the offending had affected her development, saying she struggled to trust people and was no longer the “sweet and happy girl” she used to be.
Justice Mossop also acknowledged her trauma from engaging with the court proceedings.
“Nothing will ever hurt me like the actual court, sitting there getting called a liar over and over … reliving everything I was trying so hard to forget,” he quoted her as saying in a statement to the court.
Justice Mossop said the offender had a “disrupted” upbringing and a limited criminal history. He had left school part-way through Year 11 to work in the construction and welding industries.
The court also heard that, because of a 2011 back injury that resulted in a pinched disc, he has been unable to work.
“I accept that his depression and ongoing back pain will make his time in prison significantly more burdensome,” Justice Mossop said.
He handed the 40-year-old, who continues to deny the offending, a 10-year jail sentence.
His non-parole period ends in June 2030.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
You can also submit an online report about a historical sexual assault allegation for incidents that occurred more than six months ago.
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