Stepfather jailed for brazen sexual assault of teen in shared bed

Judge Jeff Clarke described the offending of a man who sexually assaulted his stepdaughter as “disgraceful conduct” towards a child who had already experienced a troubled childhood. The man has now been declared a reportable sex offender.

A teenage sexual assault victim sat in the back of the courtroom as her stepfather, 29, was sentenced for a brazen, “disgraceful” attack on her last year.

The victim had been visiting her mother and stepfather, sleeping in the same bed as no other was available, when the incident took place in Gladstone in April 2020.

The stepfather took an opportunistic moment when his partner left the room to deal with a baby to grab the teen, pull her by the hair back to the bed, bite her neck, put his hand down her shorts and ask her to kiss him.

The girl refused.

By the time the girl’s mother returned to the room, the defendant’s hands were situated beside him.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty on June 22 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of sexual assault (domestic violence).

The court heard the defendant had two children with the victim’s mother and those children were now in foster care, as too was the victim.

Defence lawyer Jordan Ahlstrand said his client’s father was an alcoholic and his mother a methamphetamines user.

He said two of his siblings were also meth users, while one does not do drugs and has a full time job.

Mr Ahlstrand said the man’s childhood was also marred by domestic violence.

He said his client left school in Year 7 and had worked various jobs since.

Mr Ahlstrand said the defendant starting binge drinking and smoking marijuana when he was 13, and using meth when he was 21.

He said the defendant had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016, along with depression and anxiety while being held on remand.

Mr Ahlstrand said the defendant had experienced overcrowding in the Brisbane correctional facility he was held on remand in, which was also subject to many lockdowns due to COVID-19, resulting in the defendant spending 24 hours a day in his cell.

The court heard the stepfather had been given bail, but continued to offend, racking up about 30 breach of domestic violence orders, resulting in him being returned to prison while waiting for sentencing.

The outstanding DV matters have been set down to be dealt with in Gladstone Magistrates Court on June 23.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the offending was “disgraceful conduct” towards a child who had already experienced a troubled childhood.

He sentenced the stepfather to 280 days prison with immediate parole eligibility and declared 280 days presentence custody.

Judge Clarke pointed out to the defendant that by recording a conviction, the defendant was automatically declared a reportable sex offender.