Jailed for sex attacks on daughter

The man was charged with of grievous sexual assault, indecent assault and attempted incest. His daughter, was a Form Four pupil at the time of the attacks. The first offence occurred in 2008, when the girl was 15. Attorneys Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal and Sarah De Silva prosecuted. They said the teenager was in the living room of the family home in East Trinidad watching television when her father sexually assaulted her.

The court heard that the incident occurred minutes after he came home from work. At the time, her three sisters were asleep in their bedrooms.

The acts of grievous sexual assault were committed in August 2008.

The court heard that the teenager was in her bedroom when her father entered the room and sexually assaulted her on a bed.

In the months of October and September 2009, the teenager was also home alone and in her bedroom when her father indecently assaulted her on a bed.

During these times, her sisters were asleep in their bedrooms.

During the trial, the victim who is now 24, was brought as a witness but refused to speak.

Her statements to police along with other evidential documents were read to the jury and Justice David during the trial. The victim’s mother, who lives elsewhere, also testified during the trial.

In passing sentence yesterday, Justice Harris said the court must send a message to other potential offenders.

But he took into consideration certain mitigating factors when considering the sentence. Justice David said the accused had no previous convictions or pending court matters. On two charges of grievous sexual assault, the man was sentenced to 16 years’ in prison per charge. On the charges of indecent assault, he was sentenced to five years per charge. On the charge of attempted incest, he was jailed for 20 years. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently thus the accused will serve 20 years in prison.