A MARRIED man convicted of taking advantage of his 14-year-old step-granddaughter in their family home in Labasa has been sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Justice Lee James Burney found the 76-year-old guilty of a count each of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault committed in 2024.
According to the facts, in May 2024, the victim was out of school with a swollen leg. Taking advantage of being alone with her, the man sexually assaulted her while she lay in bed in the sitting room.
She reported the incident to her mother, who then informed her own mother about the offence.
On June 2 of the same year, the victim returned home from a neighbour’s birthday party to collect ice cream, when the man digitally raped her.
She once more complained to her mother, leading to a family discussion. However, despite this, the man indecently assaulted her four days later.
The incidents caused a rift within the family, resulting in the home being divided, and the matter was eventually reported to the police.
The man, who has no previous convictions, suffers from various conditions, including hypertension, shortness of breath and occasional palpitations.
In a letter dated March 2 this year, a reverend vouched for the man, describing him as a positive mentor to his children and other members of the church.
Justice Burney said serious sexual offending against children by elderly and infirm men is prevalent in the community.
“Increasingly severe sentences handed down by our courts in recent years have seemingly failed to deter those who are minded to sexually abuse children,” the judge said on March 13.
“It might be argued that such lascivious reprobates amongst us cannot be deterred by condign punishment. The unpalatable reality may well be that such people are simply incorrigible.”
The man must serve nine years and 10 months of his head sentence before he can be considered for parole.
