Dad jailed for sexually abusing 4-year-old daughter (Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia)

UNNAMED DAD has been jailed for sexually abusing his 4-year-old daughter. The abuse took place while Mom was at work and Dad was "caretaking."

http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/man-jailed-for-incest/1977781.aspx?storypage=0

Man jailed for incest
BY FIONA BROOM
25 Oct, 2010 09:34 AM

A FOUR year-old girl sexually abused by her Latrobe Valley father now has nightmares and some physical side effects as a result of her father's ``wicked'' actions, a County Court has heard.
The 41 year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty on 6 October in the Latrobe Valley County Court of four counts of incest.

He earlier pleaded guilty to one count of incest and two counts of committing an indecent act with a child.

In sentencing on Friday, Judge Gerard Mullaly said the man profoundly abused the trust of his daughter, who was entitled to look to her father for comfort and protection.

Instead, the man sexually penetrated his daughter on at least four occasions and admitted to committing other forms of sexual abuse against the girl, Judge Mullaly said.

The man's actions exposed his daughter to aspects of adult sexuality at a very young age, ``gravely'' affecting her innocence, the judge said.

The court heard the man began abusing his daughter in mid 2008 when she was four and a half years old.

Judge Mullaly said the man sexually penetrated his daughter while his wife was at work and their children were in his care.

In July last year the girl revealed the abuse to a family friend, who reported it to police.

Judge Mullaly said during the man's interview with police he ``steadfastly denied'' sexually penetrating his daughter, but he admitted other forms of abuse.

The man's wife of eight years is standing by her husband, the court heard.

Judge Mullaly said ``decent minded members of our community would be repulsed'' at the idea of a child being used for sexual purposes, and many ``could not help but be disturbed'' by the case.

He said the man's offending ``tore at the fabric of your family and ultimately tore your famliy apart''.

``You and you alone are responsible for what occurred,'' Judge Mullaly said.

He said from her video evidence the girl appeared to be ``a delightful and polite seven year-old'' and she was shown to be a lively child, but she was exhibiting ``troubling behaviour'' and it would be difficult to predict what affect the abuse would have on her in the future.

Judge Mullaly said the man, who is a member of a Pentecostal church, expressed remorse for the actions he confessed to, but he was ``unable to find that your expressions of remorse are founded on a real insight'' into the impacts of the abuse.

He said few other cases involved victims as young as four and while it was possible the 41 year-old could be reformed ``there remains some risk'' he would reoffend.

Judge Mullaly sentenced the man to a maximum of 12 years and six months' jail with a non-parole period of nine years and six months.

He will be a registered sex offender for life.