Shamed brother off hook

NO conviction has been recorded against a man who volunteered information to police about sexual misconduct as a child.

The 21-year-old faced court yesterday for sentencing after pleading guilty to six counts of indecent treatment of a child.

The crimes occurred in a White Rock home between 2008 and 2011 when the man was aged 12-15 and his victim, his younger sister, was between six and nine years old.

The siblings’ mother was made aware of an incident in February last year when her daughter made a report to police.

During the subsequent police investigation, the man admitted to five other occasions when he had inappropriately touched his sister.

The court heard the man attempted suicide twice due to the shame the reporting of the incidents had caused.

He was being treated for mental health issues including anxiety, borderline personality disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

“An offender who confesses to what was an unknown crime may be said to merit special leniency,” Judge Tracy Fantin said in sentencing. “The confession may well be seen as not motivated by the fear of discovery or the acceptance of likelihood of proof of guilt.

“You have no criminal history at all … (and) you have not offended at all while on bail.”

The man is subject to two years’ probation. He must take part in mental health assessments and treatment and engage in “appropriate sex offending rehabilitation”.

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