Dad ordered to pay compensation to daughter for sex abuse (Brisbane, Australia)

UNNAMED DAD has been ordered to pay $45,000 to his daughter for sexually abusing her between the ages of 14 and 17. He was convicted back in 2007.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/father-ordered-to-pay-compensation-to-his-daughter-for-sex-abuse/story-e6freoof-1225935006584

Father ordered to pay compensation to his daughter for sex abuse
Tony Keim
From: The Courier-Mail October 06, 2010 3:30PM

A SUNSHINE Coast father has been ordered to pay $45,000 in compensation to his daughter for sexually abusing her over a three-year period while she was a teenager.

Brisbane District Court judge Tony Rafter ordered the father, now aged 51, pay his daughter, now aged 22, criminal compensation for sexual offences committed on the girl, then aged between 14 and 17, between December 2002 and December 2005.

Judge Rafter, SC, in a written decision published today, said the father was convicted in Maroochydore District Court on October 25, 2007, on two counts of rape and one each of incest and maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.

On December 17, 2007, the man was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court to 10 years jail for the offences against his daughter and declared a serious violent offender – meaning he is required to serve at least 80 per cent of the term behind bars.

The court was told the daughter suffered significant mental or nervous shock and adverse impacts as result of the abuse – which included up to 12 acts of sexual intercourse – inflicted by her father, who was then aged between 43 and 46.

Judge Rafter said the girl, in her victim impact statement and affidavit to the court, claimed to have suffered "significant impact" as a result of the sexual attacks.

"The (girl) has difficulty sleeping, suffers from nightmares several times each week and has flashbacks when in public and during sexual activity," he said.

"She worries that she will be unable to have children as a consequence of the offences.

"She was teased badly at school when other children found out what had happened and her grades deteriorated.

"Her relationships with other family members have suffered ... (and her) mother did not believe her and one of her brothers and her paternal grandmother refuse to talk to her."

The court was told the girl was examined by psychiatrist Dr Barbara McGuire late last year and was diagnosed as suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder.

"Dr McGuire states that the (victim's) sense of violation, low self-esteem, increased fear and mistrust of men, past poor judgment in the choice of sexual partners and promiscuity are features of the diagnosis of (PTSD)," Judge Rafter said.

Judge Rafter ordered the father pay his daughter a total of $44,250 in compensation – $21,750 for mental or nervous shock and $22,500 for adverse impacts as a result of the sexual offences.