Greensborough retiree jailed for sexually abusing grandchildren
A Greensborough man who sexually abused his grandchildren, then claimed the girls knew what they were doing, has been jailed.
North
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A Greensborough man who sexually abused his young granddaughters, then claimed the girls had knowingly chosen to perform the sex acts, has been jailed.
The 65-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to a minimum of eight years’ jail before the County Court, having pleaded guilty to three charges of persistently sexually abusing a child under 16.
The court heard the grandfather repeatedly had his granddaughters perform sex acts with him from early 2019 to early 2020 when he regularly babysat them.
The man penetrated each of his victims, including while having them watch porn with him, and performed lewd acts in front of them.
The abuse only ended when one girl begged her mum not to go to grandpa’s house, revealing what had been occurring.
He admitted the crimes to police when he was arrested that day, saying the girls were not reluctant participants, but were capable of making up their own minds about consent, and had chosen to engage in the sex acts.
Judge Rosemary Carlin said the man’s calculated and protracted crimes could “only be described as depraved and despicable”.
“You violated innocent children, your own flesh and blood, for your sexual pleasure,” Judge Carlin said.
“The harm you have caused to your family is immeasurable.
“You totally abdicated your responsibility as a grandfather to protect and nurture your grandchildren.
“Instead, you exploited their love and affection and manipulated them into engaging in a variety of sexual acts well beyond their comprehension.”
The court heard the man, who had no criminal history, had denied being sexually interested in the children, claiming feeling neglected by his partner was the reason for the illegal sex acts.
But Judge Carlin refused to accept feelings of rejection as the motivation behind such crimes.
Judge Carlin said she had taken into account the benefit of the man’s plea and admissions in sentencing him to a maximum of 12 years’ jail on December 18.
He had already served 29 days.
The man will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
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