Bowen man will spend two months in jail for molesting his stepdaughter in isolated sex assault

The now registered sex offender was more than 20 years older than the young girl he took advantage of during a drive.

A Bowen man will spend two months of a 12 months jail term behind bars for molesting his stepdaughter.

A Bowen man who molested his young stepdaughter during a drive will spend just two months behind bars.

He was more than 20 years older than the little girl, who was 11 or 12 when the vile crime occurred sometime in 2017. Now he will be a registered sex offender.

“She lived with (him) and called him dad”, Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said.

Mackay District Court heard during the drive he placed the girl’s hand on his leg and kept it there for about 20 minutes.

Ms Friedewald said the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, moved her hand to his penis and again held it there for about 20 minutes.

The court heard he moved her hand on his penis and there was skin on skin contact.

His offending came to light in February 2020 when he made full admissions to police including the time frame over which the incident occurred.

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Ms Friedewald said although it was an isolated incident, it was “protracted” and represented a “gross breach of trust”.

The man, aged in his 30s, pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of a child under 16 under care in Bowen.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan, instructed by Fisher Dore Lawyers, handed up written submissions in relation to his client, who is a father of two.

The court heard he had significant health problems at the time, and now had a lack of contact with his own children as a result of this offence.

In relation to those Judge Ian Dearden said he was not persuaded the circumstances were “exceptional”.

Under Queensland Law, anyone convicted of a child sex abuse must spend time in jail unless there is a strong argument for exceptional circumstances in their favour.

Judge Dearden said in this case the length of time over which the indecent treatment occurred and the fact it involved skin on skin contact called for time in actual custody.

“It’s an odd offence in one sense … it’s still a serious example of a breach of trust,” Judge Dearden said, later saying it was not just “momentary”.

When asked if there was anything he personally wanted to tell the court, the man said: “I just want to say I’m sorry and I feel ashamed for what I’ve done.”

The man was jailed for 12 months, to be suspended after two months. A conviction was recorded.

The remaining 10 months will hang over his head for two years.

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Originally published as Bowen man will spend two months in jail for molesting his stepdaughter in isolated sex assault