A man who sexually abused his stepdaughter then fled abroad when the abuse was brought to light was jailed today and put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland told the 68-year-old Co Antrim man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, had his case gone to trial the sentence would have been in the region of four years for his “significant breach of trust”.
As well as being sentenced to a total of 22 months, the man had already served four months while awaiting extradition from the country in the far east where he had fled to. He was deported from there in December 2019.
In all the father of two pleaded guilty to a total of nine charges, seven of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with or towards a child.
They were committed over a three-year period from the mid-1990s when he was in his 40s and his step-daughter aged from 10 to 13.
Outlining the background to the case, the Belfast Crown Court judge said when police were first notified of the abuse in 2013, the man instead of attending an agreed interview, fled the country and had to be deported back to Northern Ireland after being traced abroad.
Judge McFarland said the indecent assaults were carried out in various rooms in the family home, and involved him touching his young step-daughter both inside and outside her clothing, whilst the gross indecencies involved her being made to touch him.
However, Judge McFarland said while the man’s abuse “did not progress to more serious conduct, it was a significant breach of trust, which has had a profound impact on the victim, both at the time, and then later in her adolescence and adulthood”.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch welcomed the sentence handed down.
Detective Sergeant Nick Harris said: “I commend the courage of the victim in coming forward and seeking justice, even though the offences occurred many years ago. I would encourage anyone who has been sexually abused to come forward and report it to police, even if it was a long time ago. We have trained officers who will treat all victims with sensitivity and respect.
“This case shows that even if a number of years have passed, we can still investigate reports of sexual offences against children and place offenders before the courts so that justice can prevail. This should also send out a strong message to those involved in sexual abuse that the Police are determined to make them amenable for their crimes.
“Officers in PSNI’s Public Protection Branch are committed to investigating all reports of sexual assault. We have specifically trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and respect. I would continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual assault to contact police on 101.”
