Central West Queensland father groomed, raped and sexually abused his daughters

A Queensland dad did horrific things to his daughters. But it’s what their mum did that will really shock you. WARNING: Explicit content.

The mother of two girls repeatedly raped by their biological father was more concerned about herself than her children, a court heard.

The Central West Queensland father, who was described as ‘truly evil’, groomed and sexually abused his older daughter for two years when she was younger than 12 years old and raped his younger daughter when she was 12 years old and younger.

The defendant, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on August 16 to three counts of rape, and one count each of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child and indecent treatment of a child under 16/under 12 who was of lineal descent.

Prosecutor Shauna Farrelly said the defendant was the biological father of the two victim children, with the oldest aged 10-12 years old at the time he offended against her for about two years from 2009.

She said when the victim’s mother learned of the offending, she was concerned about herself, according to the children.

“She told the children she loved the defendant and couldn’t leave him,” Ms Farrelly said.

“It appeared to the children that she didn’t care about their wellbeing.”

The court heard throughout the sexual relationship the defendant groomed his daughter to perform sexual contact with him.

The defendant would touch the victim’s breasts and buttocks weekly, and would rub her genitalia, have her masturbate him or try to have sex with her once every three weeks.

On four separate occasions while she was 11 years old, the defendant forced the victim to perform multiple sexual acts and performed many on her.

The offending against the victim stopped when she told the defendant if he didn’t stop, she would tell someone.

Ms Farrelly said when the victim was 16 years old, the defendant told her he would be “the first to break her in”.

She said the defendant raped his youngest daughter on three separate occasions between 2014 and 2018 when she was aged between 8-12 years old.

The defendant drove the victim outside their rural town when she was eight years old, pulled her pants down and digitally penetrated her before telling she had to do it back ‘because it was fair’ and forced her to masturbate him and told her not to tell anyone.

The victim was at home with the defendant babysitting her younger brother, who was an infant, when the defendant removed the victim’s towel after she had showered, laid her on a bed and raped her.

The last rape occurred during Christmas holidays at an aunt’s house in Brisbane when the victim was 12 years old.

Rockhampton Courthouse. Picture: Allan Reinikka

The defendant took the victim to a room downstairs, locked the door, and covered her mouth as she screamed and raped her.

The defendant told the victim not to tell anyone as it would ruin the family and he would go to jail.

The court heard complaints were made in June 2020.

Ms Farrelly said one of the victim’s had already moved out of home and the other victim was in the care of her aunt.

“They no longer have anything to do with their immediate family due to the family taking ‘his side’ and they haven’t spoken to their mother in many months,” she said.

She said the fact the defendant offended against two victims repeatedly over time suggested an attraction to children.

Barrister Jack Kennedy said his client’s time on remand at Capricornia Correctional Centre had been “particularly difficult”.

Mr Kennedy said his client was assaulted no less than 22 times during his 222 days on remand.

“It seems the prisoners became aware of the charges he was facing,” he said.

“He was threatened and assaulted numerous times.

“He was told by one inmate that if he pleaded guilty and went back inside, he was going to shiv him.

“He was placed in protective custody due to those threats.”

Capricornia Correctional Centre. FILE PHOTO

He said his client had a “very difficult” childhood but had no issues with drugs or alcohol.

Mr Kennedy said his client was well liked within the community and assisted others where he could.

“In what little spare time he had he would care for family and friends, people outside the family speak of his work ethic and ability to care for others,” he said.

Mr Kennedy said his client was seeing a psychiatrist while on remand and was now seeing a general practitioner.

Judge Jeff Clarke said throughout the proceedings, the defendant had shown “no outward expression of remorse”.

“Instead you have adopted quite a belligerent demeanour of disinterest and disregard, especially at the time of the reading of the victim impact material of your own daughters,” he said.

Judge Clarke said the defendant’s offending had a “devastating impact” on the victims.

“What happened is truly evil,” he said.

“The elder daughter describes the loss of her identity, fear of you coming into her room and that she didn’t have friends over out of fear you would prey upon them.

“She speaks of your emotional manipulation, making her believe it was her fault. She says you took her childhood, her trust, her strength, her everything.

“Your younger daughter speaks of the physical pain she experienced and the emotional anguish and fear of you coming into her room. She says she did not feel safe at night.

“She also speaks of your emotional manipulation.”

The defendant was sentenced to prison for 10 years with 222 days declared as time served. One of the rape charges was declared a serious violent offence.