A MAN has been sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison for sexually abusing his teen daughter on four occasions in 2021 and 2022.
The now 40-year-old defendant was found guilty of one count of persistent sexual abuse after a closed-court trial.
He was 38 years old and his daughter, only 16, when the first incident occurred in 2021.
Justice Howard Lawry, when sentencing the defendant on Monday, said the sentence imposed must provide a deterrence to the defendant and others who sexually victimise others, particularly others in respect of the offender who is in a position of responsibility.
He said the defendant showed a totally self-interested person with little regard for others, especially his own family.
“Your offending has continued over a significant period of time,” Justice Lawry said.
Justice Lawry added that the court had received a Victim Impact Statement which provided a very concerning picture of a young woman who does not see or feel anything in her future.
“Although she has found her mother has harmed her self-confidence, your conduct has only made things worse for a young woman who now no longer attends school or has fun with friends,” Justice Lawry told the defendant.
“She is now limited to domestic activities,” he further added.
The court found the defendant committed rape and incest on his daughter on four occasions between 2021 and 2022 inside their family home and once outside their house.
Justice Lawry said the court found that on those occasions, his daughter did not consent to the sexual intercourse and the defendant knew she did not consent.
Justice Lawry told the defendant that there were a number of aggravating features and the first one was the gross breach of trust.
“You are her parent and you violated her in her own home.
“A consequence of you being a father is that there is significant age disparity between the two of you.”
Justice Lawry told the defendant that he did not find any mitigating factor relating to his offending.
In terms of his personal circumstances, Justice Lawry said the fact that the defendant appeared to have no previous convictions could be given little weight because of his continued offending.
He said by the time of the second incident, the defendant could not be said to have been of good character.
Justice Lawry had imposed a final sentence of 11 years and eight months in jail.
He then ordered the prison authorities to take into account the time the defendant had already spent in custody to calculate his release date.
Frank Brenan Kama of Public Solicitor’s Office represents the defendant, whilst Public Prosecutors, Geitaba Waletofea and Martha Mutukera, appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
