A police officer who served for four decades in the police force has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after sexually abusing his two young stepdaughters.
The 64-year-old’s shocking crimes were aired in the Adelaide District Court, where it was heard he abused the girls when they were between six and 12 years old.
He denied the offence, but a judge found him guilty of two counts of having an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and one count of aggravated assault.
The police officer, who cannot be named, is from regional South Australia, and the court heard his role in the force made the girls feel they had no one to report the abuse to.
A police officer with four decades in the police force has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after sexually abusing his two young stepdaughters (file image)
‘This was a serious crime against two girls who had a right to their protection. Your abuse of them is a breach of trust,” said Judge Gordon Barrett, The advertiser reported.
‘Although you are a person of good character, your occupation as a police officer was part of the reason why the girls felt they could not complain about what you were doing.
“Indeed, they thought there was no one to complain to.”
The former police officer was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years behind bars and is prohibited from contacting any of the girls in any way.
The man has since become engaged to a woman he met on a dating app, although the pair have yet to meet in person.
The former police officer has filed an application to appeal the conviction.
A court hearing is scheduled for November.