A MAN has been jailed for 34 months by the Ba Magistrate’s Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter when she was 13 years old.
The offender, who must serve a minimum of 20 months behind bars before becoming eligible for parole, appeared before Magistrate Namrata Mishra on Friday last week for sentencing on charges of indecent assault, sexual assault, criminal intimidation, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
While delivering the sentence, Magistrate Mishra emphasised the necessity of deterrence in that the court had a responsibility to protect the community.
The court determined that the level of harm was high, citing the offender’s attempt to take sexual advantage of a child.
A permanent Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) was issued against the offender to protect the victim and her relatives, with standard non molestation and non contact conditions.
The offender was warned that any breach of the order would lead to further prosecution.
Parties aggrieved by the decision have 28 days to appeal to the High Court.
