A 74-year-old man from South Australia’s south-east has been sentenced to at least four and a half years’ jail for sexually abusing his young granddaughter after admitting the crime on a nanny-cam set up by her parents.
Key points:
- The four-year-old victim told her mother that her grandfather had abused her
- The girl’s parents set up a nanny-cam that caught him admitting the crime
- He pleaded not guilty but was convicted and sentenced
The man, who cannot be named to avoid identifying his victim, was found guilty last year of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.
His four-year-old victim disclosed his offending to her mother — the man’s daughter — in 2020 and the girl’s parents then set up a camera to record his next visit.
The grandfather was then caught on video admitting his offences in a conversation with his granddaughter, talking about what he had done to her and that it was meant to be a secret.
He pleaded not guilty to the crime but was convicted after a trial in the District Court.
He then admitted what he had done ahead of sentencing submissions.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Geraldine Davison said the man’s actions were reprehensible and had affected his family in many ways, including his granddaughter developing anxiety.
“It was obviously shocking and distressing for your daughter,” Judge Davison said.
The man tried to take his own life twice after his conviction.
But Judge Davison said he had not had mental health issues before he was found guilty.
She said the man had tried to minimise his offending and denied having a sexual interest in children.
But she said there was “no credible alternative” to this conclusion.
She sentenced the man to eight years’ jail with a minimum non-parole period of four years and six months.
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