A man who subjected his girlfriend’s little sister to sickening abuse for five and a half years was supported in court by his partner as he was sentenced for the horrific abuse.
The 25-year-old, who has not been named to protect the victim’s identity, appeared in Townsville District Court this week where he pleaded guilty to rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12 and seven charges. of sexual conduct with a child. .
The court found that the victim was only eight years old when the abuse began in the Burdekin family home, reports the Townsville Newsletter.
She woke up and her sister’s boyfriend, who was 16 years old at the time, was performing a sexual act on her.
The girl was also raped on one occasion. The details of the abuse are too graphic to publish.
The 25-year-old was sentenced in the Townsville District Court after pleading guilty to rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12 and seven counts of sexual conduct with a child.
The harrowing details also surprised the judge.
“He is almost sociopathic, he has no empathy for the person he has offended,” Judge Michael Burnett said.
The court heard that after the family moved to the Whitsundays region, the crimes became more frequent and the couple had sex several times a week while the victim’s older sister was not at home.
The disgusting behavior was not revealed until January 2022, when the older sister became suspicious and called an ambulance to the house after an argument, after which the young woman told paramedics what had happened.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate said the offender manipulated and isolated the victim, telling her he “ruined her life” due to his own poor mental health.
The man was in a “position of trust” by having a relationship with the girl’s older brother and having children with him.
The older sister, who is still with the man, was in the back of the courtroom with her children when he was sentenced this week.
Walklate read the girl’s heartbreaking impact statement in court.
“Before the offensive I loved sports, school, hanging out with my family and friends,” the girl’s impact statement read.
‘After the offensive, I moved everyone away so they were alone. I had trust issues with everyone, including my mother, my sister, my teachers, and my friends. This went on for years until I told them that it really hurt me to know that they didn’t believe me.
“I felt alone and worthless.”
The sickening behavior was not revealed until January 2022, when the older sister became suspicious and called an ambulance to the house after an argument, after which the young woman told paramedics what had been happening (file image).
Defense lawyer Ross Malcomson told the court the man was young when the offenses began.
He said his client wanted the case over so he could move forward, but acknowledged he had to face the consequences of his actions.
The man was sentenced to nine years in prison.
He is eligible for parole within four years.