A South Australian man who sexually abused his partner’s daughter over three years will spend at least four years in prison.
Key points:
- The court found that the man was in poor health but should still spend time in prison
- Judge Geraldine Davison told the court that his actions had “put a divide” between the victim from her family
- The man will be eligible for parole in 2027
Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse that readers may find distressing.
The man in his 70s from the state’s south-east, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat with headphones on in the Mount Gambier District Court as Judge Geraldine Davison sentenced him to 10 years in prison with a non-parole period of four years.
Judge Davison said the man had abused the victim while she was between four and eight years old.
The abuse included the man forcing the victim to touch him inappropriately, pouring beer on the victim’s body, and forcing her to shower with him.
Judge Davison said the abuse happened once a week and sometimes more when the victim’s mother was working.
“The things that occur in a person’s early life that are significant and cause them fear and anxiety live with them forever,” Judge Davison said.
“They may learn to live with it, but it will still be there in the background.
“You denied this offending and continue to do so.
“You are not to be sentenced in relation to [denying the offending] — however, a consequence of it was that the complainant, her sister and her mother were required to give evidence in this trial.”
‘Gross breach of trust’
The guilty man, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was described as “older than his years” in medical reports.
He has been diagnosed with dementia.
Judge Davison said his poor health meant he was unlikely to reoffend if sentenced to home detention.
But she said there was a “gross breach of trust” that occurred during the offending and the man needed to spend time behind bars.
“This offending occurred many years ago,” Judge Davison said.
“It was committed against a child who was very young at that time and committed over many years.
“She was required to keep the secret from her mother as your abuse continued.
“For much of the offending she was also naive to the unlawful nature of it.
“You were the only person she had really known as a father.”
‘Significant impacts’
Judge Davison said it was clear the offending had a significant impact on the victim, who had previously told the court she would never feel comfortable leaving her own children alone with men.
The victim had also been diagnosed with PTSD and depression as a result of the abuse.
“Perhaps one of the most significant impacts of your offending is that it changed the relationship the complainant had with her mother and sister,” Judge Davison said.
“She felt she had a big secret that she could not talk to anyone about.
“This put a divide between her and those who should’ve been the closest to her.
“It’s only in recent times they’ve started to come together and begun to understand the impact on their lives that you had.”
The man will be eligible for parole in 2027.
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