Sunshine Coast chef in Maroochydore District Court for raping young girl

An eight-year-old girl’s innocent question to her drunk stepfather that led to a sickening sexual attack where she was raped in her own home has landed the Sunshine Coast chef behind bars. Read what happened in court.

While everyone else in the house was asleep, an eight-year-old girl’s innocent question ended in her being “forcefully” raped by her own stepfather.

The 33-year-old Sunshine Coast chef, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison with a parole eligibility date of August 20, 2023.

The Maroochydore District Court heard on Monday how the young victim was standing in the living room when she asked her stepdad for an ice cream.

The man who had consumed at least eight alcoholic beverages at the time asked the girl: “What do I get?” to which the victim replied: “Whatever you want.”

The court heard the man pushed the girl onto a couch before “forcefully” raping her vaginally and digitally.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said the child was kicking but any attempt to resist was to no avail.

The girl confided in her mother the next morning despite the man telling her to keep what happened between the pair.

The victim’s mother rushed her daughter to a hospital and the defendant was arrested later that day.

Ms O’Rourke said the victim’s personality had changed as a result of the rape as she was now more reclusive and dressed differently.

Solicitor David Crews said on the night in question his client had been told some distressing information about his mother which triggered the drinking.

“He had a difficult upbringing … he witnessed domestic violence in the home,” Mr Crews said.

The court heard the man had been in custody since May 20, 2021, before pleading guilty to two counts of rape.

Judge Gary Long said the accused’s actions were a “significant breach of trust” and ordered he spend at least two years and three months behind bars before being eligible for parole.