Grandfather’s ‘conspiracy to defraud’ his abuse victim

A GRANDFATHER convicted of sexually assaulting his granddaughter is now part of an alleged conspiracy to defraud the victim of any potential damages, the High Court has been told.

The man, who served a jail sentence after pleading guilty to 18 counts of criminal offences against his granddaughter, must now disclose files relating to property transfers he allegedly made to his wife, Judge Anthony Barr has ordered.

The man’s granddaughter, who alleges that she was abused between the ages of nine and 12, began a civil action against both her grandparents. She sued her grandfather for damages for assault, and her grandmother for negligence in failing to exercise care for her safety.

And she claimed that her grandfather transferred three properties to his wife to render worthless any judgment she might obtain against him. Both grandparents filed a defence in December last year.

The grandfather admitted touching her but said he considered it ‘horseplay’. His defence said the man had admitted having ‘little insight into his offending behaviour’. The grandmother denied any knowledge of the abuse. They both denied conspiracy to transfer property.

Also ordering the man to hand over his psychiatric records, as his claim of having little insight into his offending behaviour had formed part of an argument to minimise his liability, Judge Barr allowed the defendants a two-week stay in which they can decide to appeal his ruling.