Accused abused stepdaughter over five years from age of 13, trial hears

A MAN accused of getting his stepdaughter to go on the pill after raping her went on trial yesterday charged with sexually abusing her over a five-year period until 2007, when she was between the ages of 13 and 18.

Belfast Crown Court heard that the 52-year-old Co Antrim man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies a total of 14 charges, seven each of rape and indecent assault on his stepdaughter after allegedly duping and grooming her.

Prosecution QC Charles MacCreanor told the jury of seven women and five men that it was a “case of manipulation, exploitation” after she came to live with him and her mother.

He added that “the sex was unlawful and without consent” and that having schooled her “she was corrupted and used”.

The senior prosecution barrister said the abuse began by him asking her for “farewell kisses on the cheek”, but that he would turn his head, presenting his lips, and while she was initially uncomfortable about that, “did peck him on the lips”.

Having allegedly “won” her over, it was claimed the man “suggested they play a kissing game” which it was said progressed with them kissing open mouthed, with him telling her he was “learning her to kiss for when she got to the big school”.

“This is the child being duped, being exploited,” said Mr MacCreanor, which allegedly went even further with inappropriate touching until ultimately “he then raised it to the next stage, and this was, what we say was the first rape”. The lawyer further alleged he told her he loved her, and proceeded to rape her on a continual basis, with sex allegedly taking place not only at the home, but in his car and in his works’ van.

The court heard the man told her he loved her more than her mother and as soon as she was old enough he would take her to Spain where they would live.

It was also claimed that while he told her no one was going to love her like he did, what was happening between them “was their secret” and if she told anyone, he would make her out to be a liar and would turn her family against her, and she would never see them again. Mr MacCreanor said that when she was 18 she finally refused him when he tried to “force himself on her”.

Eventually she went to police after attending a course on “child protection” and came to realise what had happened to her was wrong.

The lawyer said that throughout his police interviews the man denied all of her allegations and “maintained throughout there was no special or sexual relationship” between him and his stepdaughter.

The man also claimed that “nothing happened” and that “this was all a fantasy” and made up by his stepdaughter.

At hearing.

❝ The sex was unlawful and without consent... she was corrupted and used by the accused