Pre-teen was unaware of pregnancy after sex abuse

When a Calgary mom took her pre-teenage daughter to the hospital suffering “excruciating stomach pains” neither of them knew why.

But medical staff soon learned what other doctors had missed; the girl was pregnant and about to give birth.

The girl's uncle, who is facing a significant penitentiary sentence, pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexual interference of a minor for repeatedly having sexual intercourse with the child when she was 11 years old.

Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood, reading from a statement of agreed facts signed by the uncle and his lawyer, Brian Goldsworthy, said the girl was taken to the hospital in September 2018.

“(She) was complaining of excruciating stomach pains,” Greenwood told provincial court Judge Catherine Skene.

“The next day, she gave birth to a baby girl,” the prosecutor said.

The girl subsequently gave a statement to police saying her uncle by marriage, whose name can't be published to protect the victim's identity, had repeatedly abused her in his home during sleepovers.

Greenwood said the uncle, who is the biological father of the baby, was between 25 and 26 years old at the time of the abuse.

“(The girl) told the police that she could not recall how many times (he) had sex with her, but that it happened more than 10 times.”

The last time occurred just weeks before she gave birth to the child, the prosecutor said.

Greenwood told Skene that she and Goldsworthy would be presenting a joint submission for a “substantial” penitentiary term, but did not indicate an exact number.

The uncle remains free on bail pending his sentencing hearing in September.