Western Downs man, 43, jailed for sex with teenage stepdaughter

A man has been referred to as a “hero” by his family as he appeared in Toowoomba court this week charged with having a sexual relationship with his step-daughter over a number of years.

A man has been jailed for his sexual relationship with his teenage stepdaughter.

A WESTERN Downs man jailed for twice having sex with his 14-year-old stepdaughter maintained the support of the victim and her family.

The now 43-year-old man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty before Toowoomba District Court to the indecent treatment of a girl under 16 and two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 16.

Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie told the court the first incident related to the man putting his hand down the girl’s shirt and feeling her breasts as she sat beside him in his car some time in 2017 just before her 14th birthday.

The pair then had consensual sexual intercourse during a night stopover in Charters Towers some time between March and May 2019 and again outside the family home on the Western Downs in his ute in mid-2019 when the girl was 15, she said.

The matter came to light when the man’s de facto wife became suspicious and told her son, who contacted police.

The victim initially denied anything had happened until police put certain information to her and she told of the two times of sexual intercourse.

The man made full admissions to police including informing them of the first indecent treatment incident which the girl had not told police, the court heard.

He told police he felt shame at what he had done and said he had been “blinded by lust”.

The victim, her sister and mother all provided victim impact statements in which they said while realising what he had done was wrong, none of them wanted to see him jailed.

The victim’s sister told the court she intended changing her surname to his as “he’s my hero”.

“He’s the kindest and most caring person I know,” she said through tears.

Ms Petrie said the man’s offending was a gross breach of trust.

“He took advantage of her when she was young and vulnerable,” she submitted.

Defence barrister Michael Copley QC said his client was genuinely remorseful and that he wanted to seek psychological therapy upon his release from jail to address what was behind his offending.

His client had no previous criminal history and maintained the support of his family.

Judge Katherine McGuinness said the offending was very serious and sentenced the man to four years in jail but ordered the term be suspended after he has served eight months with the balance to hang over his head for four years.