‘You don’t exist to me’
Young teenager tells father jailed for her rape to never make contact
A TEENAGE girl who courageously spoke out against her father after he committed vile acts against her says he no longer “exists” to her.
The man, who cannot be identified in order to protect his 15-year-old daughter, pleaded guilty in Townsville District Court to charges of rape, four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 – lineal descendant, and attempted indecent treatment of a child.
The court heard that the 47year-old raped his daughter when she was just 13 to 14 years old – with the offending spanning dates from December 2020 to June 2021.
He sat silently in the dock, still wearing the work pants he’d been arrested in 358 days prior.
The first offence involved the man pinning the girl down on her bed, biting her breasts and touching her crotch over her clothes.
The girl kicked herself free, and the man told her he “loved her” and went to bed.
The second offence involved the man following his daughter into her bedroom before initiating a “play fight” and digitally raping her.
He again said he loved her and left the room. She immediately told her mother, and the man was arrested the next day.
He told police he knew he had done the “wrong thing” and that he had been “intoxicated and stupid”.
“It is difficult to imagine a more significant breach of trust,” Crown prosecutor Tom Hancock said.
Defence barrister Darin Honchin said his client had a “great upbringing” and that the man had been drinking “significantly” around the time of the offending.
He added the man had seen some “unpleasant” things since being in prison, and that he wanted to care for his sick father. The girl in a statement read to the court said she now had to live with the ramifications of her father’s abuse.
“You do not exist to me … never try to contact me,” her statement read.
Her mother’s statement, also read to the court, said her daughter had been left needing months of counselling.
He was sentenced to three years’ jail, to be suspended immediately after serving 358 days in custody.
He will be a reportable offender for five years.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact:
> 1800RESPECT
> Sexual Assault Counselling Australia – 1800 211 028