A central Victorian man will spend at least six years in prison for sexually abusing his teenage daughter over several years and introducing her to illicit drugs.
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The man, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the County Court after pleading guilty to six counts of incest, four counts of supplying a drug of dependence to a child, and one count of cultivating a narcotic plant.
The victim was born from a short relationship between her mother and the offender, and believed her step-father was her biological father until she learned the truth aged about 12 or 13.
After some difficulties with her mother, the victim moved in with the offender when she was 13.
"The sexual offending that follows is serious, incest is always a serious crime," Judge John Smallwood said.
After about a month living together, the victim and the offender went to a party, where the victim used cannabis for the first time.
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The following day they travelled to Melbourne, where the offender bought heroin and injected it into himself, before injecting his daughter.
Judge Smallwood noted the victim said she was naive to drugs at that point and for the offender to inject her with heroin was "a very dangerous thing to do".
The following day, the offender injected her with amphetamine, a drug she became addicted to and had had problems with ever since.
The offender had his own addictions, Judge Smallwood said, and it was "nothing short of disgraceful" that he introduced the victim to amphetamine, knowing the ruination drugs could cause.
The offender began sexually abusing his daughter that day, and it became a common enough occurrence that the victim could not define each individual occasion.
The man's offending continued for about six years.
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He denied committing incest when he was arrested and interviewed.
Judge Smallwood noted the victim "courageously" read out a victim impact statement on the offending to the court.
"It affects her very existence, her sense of self... and her psychological difficulties are ongoing," he said, adding the breach of trust involved was "obviously massive".
Judge Smallwood said a significant jail sentence was the only option, although the offender warranted a discount on his sentence because he pleaded guilty and spared the need for a trial.
Judge Smallwood sentenced the man to a total sentence of 10 years, with a minimum non-parole period of six years.
The man had already served 325 days of pre-sentence detention.
He would have faced a 14-year jail term with a minimum of 10 years if he had not pleaded guilty.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
