Man’s vile acts of rape against daughter heard in Sunshine Coast court

A Qld man committed heinous acts on his adopted daughter, even showing her sick “stepdad” fantasy films in an effort to normalise his abuse.

The man pleaded guilty to raping his adopted daughter. Picture: generic

A man gave a short, trembling apology to a court before it heard the graphic details of how he inappropriately touched his adopted daughter from the age of 11, raping her several times.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to seven counts of rape (domestic violence offence) and one of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child (domestic violence offence).

Upon entering his plea, the man shakily told the court he was “very sorry” for his actions before Crown Prosecutor Erica Zammit detailed his offending which left his victim with psychological scars.

She told the court the girl was only 11 when the man began to touch her inappropriately over her clothes, evolving to penetration when she was 13 years old.

Ms Zammit said he had emotionally manipulated and sexualised her, and went on to “normalise” such behaviour by showing her “stepdad” and “stepdaughter” pornographic videos.

The court heard the first rapes occurred when the victim was 15.

Ms Zammit said the man told his scared daughter that it was “normal” and it would “be okay” before the rapes were committed.

The second series of rapes occurred when the victim’s mother left the home, and the man declared it was their “opportunity”; Ms Zammit told the court.

She noted his actions, which were too horrific to describe, made the girl “feel sick” and her father made her watch pornographic videos to “get her in the mood” on that occasion.

The court heard the third incident of rape ended in the man forcing his daughter into a vile act after she expressed her hatred for his offences.

When the girl refused his final attempt, the man threatened to kick her out of the house, took the sheets off her bed and said he would hit her if she turned the lights on in her room.

Ms Zammit said the victim suffered physical pain from the actions of a man who told her she would be left with no dad if she spoke about the offences and he went to jail.

Police became aware of the man’s actions against his daughter when she eventually reported it to a schoolteacher.

The court heard the man initially denied raping the girl and then told her he would “die in jail”.

Ms Zammit said he eventually came to “beg” the girl to withdraw the allegations, lest he harm himself, but he ultimately went to the police station to hand himself in.

Reading from the girl’s victim impact statement, Ms Zammit said she had trouble sleeping and heard the man’s voice saying bad things about her body.

The court heard the psychological scars had prevented her from working as she was “set off” by random things, and she often felt she could not “face the world”.

Defence barrister Mark Dixon said his client was deeply remorseful and had recognised the effect his actions had on his family.

He told the court the man had been subjected to “extreme discipline” and abuse at school.

The man’s sexual offences were not a motivation for adopting the girl, and he could not explain “why he did it”, nor did he seek to excuse his actions, Mr Dixon said.

Judge Gary Long adjourned the matter for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

Originally published as Man’s vile acts of rape against daughter heard in Sunshine Coast court