Albury father jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault against child

An Albury father searched how children feel after being inappropriately touched by their parent after he sexually abused his young daughter while she was asleep.

An Albury father has be jailed after he sexually abused his young daughter while she slept who no longer wants children of her own, a court has heard.

The man, who cannot be named, was jailed for six years in Albury District Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to four charges of sexually assaulting a person under 16.

The court heard the man was in his 50s when he sexually abused his primary school aged daughter over several months.

The victim was assaulted on five separate occasions between 2020-2021.

On one occasion she was sexually assaulted while she slept and got her a glass of milk when she woke up.

The court heard when the man was arrested, his phone showed searches including: “How a nine-year-old feels after being inappropriately touched by her father?”

The victim eventually told her mum when her dad was away.

In an interview with police the man became emotional and said he didn’t think he was harming his daughter because she was asleep, and admitted he did it for his own sexual gratification.

Judge Sean Grant said the father’s offending was a “gross breach of trust”.

In a victim impact statement written by the victim’s mother on behalf of her young daughter, the victim said she no longer considers the offender her father and she doesn’t want his surname anymore.

The court heard the victim had developed anxiety and despite being only young, said she never wanted a boyfriend or to have children.

Judge Grant acknowledged the father was remorseful, saying he apologised to the victim and said he “feels quite terrible”.

The man was sentenced to six years and six months jail with a non-parole period of three years and 11 months.