Uncle rapes niece in her bedroom while waiting for a cyclone to hit

An uncle has been found guilty by a jury for sexually assaulting his 15-year-old niece in her bedroom while waiting for an impending cyclone.

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AN uncle has been found guilty by a jury for sexually assaulting his 15-year-old niece in her bedroom, while waiting for an impending cyclone.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, assaulted the girl on March 27, 2017.

The Townsville District Court heard the family was at home taking shelter from a cyclone which never arrived.

During the night and into the early hours of March 28, the man entered the girls bedroom five times.

The court heard the man fondled her breasts, rubbed her bottom and touched her hair.

On one occasion the man entered the girl’s bedroom, he lifted up her dress and orally raped her.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate read out a victim impact statement detailing the girl’s trauma from the assaults.

“You were supposed to protect me. It was your job to guide me through my teenage years and into adulthood but instead you took away my childhood,” he said.

“Your actions rippled negative effects through my life, while you sat back and called me a liar.”

The court heard the girl had been living with her uncle since 2015 due to behavioural problems. The man pleaded guilty to six charges including rape.

Defence barrister Claire Grant said the man was married and was supported in court by his wife and extended members of his family.

“This particular incident has caused unsurprisingly much division within their family,” she said.

“He is plainly devastated about the jury’s verdict. The impact upon him and his family cannot be understated however he acknowledges the decision of the jury.”

Ms Grant said the man had been abusing alcohol at the time of the offences.

Judge John Coker said his offences were “abhorrent”. “The sexual abuse and rape of a 15-year-old girl could not be considered other than extremely serious offending,” he said.

“The complainant has been hurt as a result of this. No doubt the whole family has been hurt.”

After declaring the six days spent in pre-sentence custody as time already served, Judge Coker sentenced the man to three years in jail suspended after serving 18 months with an operational period of four years.

He will be released on June 1, 2022.

Originally published as Uncle rapes niece in her bedroom while waiting for a cyclone to hit