A central Victorian man will spend at least 11 years in prison for the "abhorrent" and prolonged sexual abuse of his stepdaughter.
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The man's abuse of his stepdaughter began when she was under the age of 10 and continued for almost five years.
Despite initially denying his offending to police, he later pleaded guilty in the County Court to incest, sexual penetration of a step-child, encouraging a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, and knowingly possessing child abuse material.
When the man - who cannot be named, in order to protect his victim - first sexually abused the girl, he got into bed with her and told her to be quiet.
The offending continued every weekend the victim went to the house to visit her mother.
The man, now aged in his 30s, also abused the girl in his car when he drove her to her relatives' house.
"She told police she said 'no' to you a thousand times but you just went ahead anyway," Judge Paul Lacava said at sentencing.
"You told her not to tell anyone, and you told her that everything would be OK. She believed you."
After the victim moved into the house to live with her mother, the abuse occurred so often the girl said she lost count of the number of times.
She also said her abuser never used a condom.
The man also encouraged the victim, via social media, to engage in sexual activity with him and her boyfriend.
The man was arrested on the night of his last assault, when police attended the home after being notified by the victim's great-grandparents.
Police found 114 images and two videos that constituted child abuse material on the man's devices.
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The court received victim impact statements from the girl and her great-grandparents, which Judge Lacava said made clear that the man's actions had ruined his stepdaughter's life and damaged her relationships with others.
"Your offending is best described as abhorrent and a gross breach of trust placed in you, not only by the victim herself, but importantly by her mother," Judge Lacava told the man.
"Your offending in my judgment falls in the upper level of offending of this kind for which you bear full moral responsibility."
He said the man's risk of reoffending in such a way was moderate, but his prospects of rehabilitation were reasonable.
Judge Lacava sentenced the man to 14 years' imprisonment, with a minimum term of 11 years.
The man had already served 489 days in custody.
If he had not pleaded guilty, he would have been jailed for at least 15 years, with a maximum of 18 years.
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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.
