Sunday, June 21, 2009

Appeals court doubles sentence for Repeat Sex Offender

The B.C. Court of Appeal has more than doubled the sentence for a man convicted of sexually abusing his daughter for 13 years, starting when she was a toddler.
The Crown had appealed last November's sentence of two years less a day and the appeal court agreed, saying it didn't fit such an abhorrent crime.
"Society's condemnation reflects the utter vulnerability of an infant child, the position of trust of the parent, and the lasting harm of sexual abuse," Justice Ian Donald said in a written ruling.
Donald said that while the man was himself abused as a child, he failed to protect his own daughter and make every effort to stop his behaviour.

"There must have been many times throughout the 13 years of abuse that the respondent's conscience troubled him, yet he persisted."
Donald noted that while the man appears to be remorseful, he was convicted for child sexual abuse in 1992 and received a suspended sentence of sexual interference.
"He began the sexual abuse of his daughter before the end of the probationary period for the first offence."

The man must now serve a five-year prison sentence, plus three years probation.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte

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