Dad, 48, jailed for raping teenage daughter before school run

A Central Queensland father who raped his shocked daughter urged her not to tell anyone while dropping her at school. WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

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A father who raped his daughter before school one day will be eligible for parole in a year’s time.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty on June 10 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of rape – domestic violence offence.

Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said the teen victim woke up as the only other adult in the house left for work the morning of the rape in early 2021, while it was still dark outside, and had tried to go back to sleep before her father entered her room.

Ms Yousufzai said the defendant, 48, raped his daughter as she lay still in shock.

Ms Yousufzai said afterwards, as the father dropped her at school, he told her not to tell anyone.

The prosecutor said the victim told a friend and police then became involved.

Ms Yousufzai said police found the father’s DNA inside the child’s underwear, under her doona and on her bedsheet.

She said the father attended a police station seven days later asking about his daughter’s whereabouts.

Ms Yousufzai said police had taken the daughter to a friend’s home as they deemed it unsafe for her to return to her father’s.

Defence barrister Phil Hardcastle said his client still had family support with his parents having driven 650kms to be in court for the sentencing along with the defendant’s long-term partner.

Judge Jeff Clarke described the man’s offending as “simply horrible”.

He sentenced the defendant to seven years’ prison, declared 371 days pre-sentence custody, with parole eligibility on June 4, 2023.

Originally published as Dad, 48, jailed for raping teenage daughter before school run