Daughter rape pair locked up

A TOWNSVILLE couple who raped their two young daughters have been jailed for 25 years collectively.

The father, 44, was sentenced to 16 years in jail, and the mother, 35, was sentenced to nine years in the Townsville District Court yesterday.

The husband and wife subjected their daughters to “horrendous sexual abuse” over a period of four years from 2012 to 2016 and pleaded guilty to charges of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under 16.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge John Coker said the children had endured rape on a regular basis during the offending.

“It is fortunate at least that neither of these children bore a child to their father,” he said. “It is clear and significant that there was in existence a parental relationship and one in which there was an obligation to provide protection, nurture and support which was wholly disregarded.”

Judge Coker read out in the court a victim impact statement provided by one of the daughters.

“What you did to me has made me ashamed of myself, my close relationship with my sister, grandad, brother and mum have been affected.

“I have issues with trust, this hugely affects my relationship with my family and friends … I have no confidence and can’t sleep at night.

“I have depression, anxiety and have self- harmed because you have made me feel worthless, you have also made me feel like it’s my fault.”

Listening to the statement read out, the mother bowed her head and cried. The court heard a psychological assessment found the mother had been sexually abused herself, and experienced trauma and neglect as a child.

The court also heard the father had suffered from sexual abuse as a child and was left with a head injury after a vehicle accident, which affected his cognitive ability.

Judge Coker said despite the low intelligence of the man, he knew what he was doing was illegal and wrong.