A KERANG predator who sexually abused his granddaughter has been jailed for at least seven years.
The elderly man, who can’t be named to protect the victim’s identity, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault of a child under 16 and three charges of sexual penetration of a child or lineal descendant (incest).
In sentencing in the County Court in Bendigo on August 6, Judge Fiona Todd said the man engaged in regular penetration of the victim, aged five and six at the time of offending, in a “range of ways”.
“You told yourself she was a willing participant,” she told the court. “She was six years old.”
The offending happened between April and December last year.
Judge Todd summarised the crimes in detail, which were so abhorrent the Gannawarra Times has chosen not to report them.
“You owed your granddaughter only kindness and protection,” she told the grandfather.
“She was very, very young, she was doing Prep at school.
“And you, her grandfather, formed a desire for her and put every other consideration behind your decision to pursue that desire.
“You convinced yourself, deluded yourself apparently, that she was a willing participant to some degree.
“But, you also knew that what you were doing was profoundly wrong.
“You demanded her secrecy; you told her not to tell anyone because you would get into trouble. You asked a six-year-old girl, your granddaughter, to maintain her silence for your protection.”
Judge Todd said the offending was “frankly, horrifying”.
“You converted your six-year-old granddaughter into your sexual partner,” she said.
“You betrayed her parents’ trust.
“You violated her body repeatedly.
“You forced her to engage in acts that are the exclusive domain of consenting adults.
“You hurt her physically, you exploded the safety of her home environment.
“You shattered her parents’ belief that they had provided a safe and secure home for their daughter.
“You fundamentally violated the community’s values: that children are to be treated with kindness and dignity, particularly by those who are family members and entrusted with their care.
“Children are to be protected by those close to them, not used for sexual gratification. Upon those values so much social good, or harm, rests.”
Judge Todd said the offending was objectively extremely serious.
“Your moral culpability is extremely high,” she said.
The victim’s mother’s victim impact statement was “full of explosive rage at your profound betrayal of her daughter and of her”, Judge Todd said.
“What you did has destroyed all her childhood memories of you,” she said.
“She has suffered terribly, unimaginably really, and will continue to do so for a long time. She worries for her daughter’s future.”
Judge Todd said while his granddaughter would be too young to have an understanding, in the years to come, it would develop.
“This is likely to be very painful,” she said.
“In contemplation of that event, I record this here for that future woman: you were the vulnerable victim of a series of terrible crimes.
“You deserved to have a grandfather who protected and spoiled you.
“You are entirely blameless; you spoke up bravely.
“You were entitled to believe what all children must believe: that those who care for them will not harm them.
“You were gravely violated; you deserved better.”
The elderly man was jailed for 13 years with a non-parole period of seven years and 10 months.
