A 47-year-old step-father was jailed for 13 years and four months yesterday after he was convicted of sexually assaulting and raping his 12-year-old step daughter.

The accused appeared in the Suva High Court yesterday and was sentenced by Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.

The Court heard that between February 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 the accused fondled and played with his step-daughter’s private parts.

On the two counts of rape, he penetrated his step daughter on two occasions between January 1 and December 31, 2012 and also between January 1, 2013 and March 12, 2017.

While sentencing the accused, Justice Rajasinghe noted that it was a rape of a juvenile case which attracted a jail term between 10 to 16 years imprisonment.

Justice Rajasinghe said the offence caused a multitude of psychological trauma for the juvenile victim. He said as a result the victim had lost trust in the family.

Justice Rajasinghe said the responsibility of the Court was to deter the would-be offenders.

The Court heard that the accused assaulted and sexually exploited his step-daughter and punched her on the mouth, chest and head and threatened her not to tell anyone about the incident.

Justice Rajasinghe told the accused that the victim considered him as her father and he had breached her trust by using her to fulfil his sexual desires.

In mitigation the accused submitted that he was married. However Justice Rajasinghe said considering the nature of the offence, the accused’s family background had minimal value thus he did not consider it in his favour.

The accused was sentenced to 13 years and four months imprisonment and ordered to serve 11 years and four months before he could apply for parole.

A permanent Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) was issued against the accused.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

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