40-year-old man jailed for abuse

A man who faked his own suicide in a bid to avoid jail for the rape and abuse of his teenage stepdaughter, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

The 40-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, has also been banned from ever working with children again, and has been ordered to sign the police sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Belfast Crown Court Judge Kevin Finnegan QC told the man there was a “significant number” of aggravating features in the case, not least the breach of trust and “a degree of grooming”.

The court heard the girl, aged 13 at the time, was subjected to horrifying assaults over an 11-month period.

The offences came about after the victim’s mother and the man separated. The girl had “become close” to him and would stay at his house at weekends.

Just before the trial began he pleaded guilty to charges of rape, one of attempted rape, five of indecent assault, and four relating to incidents of gross indecency.

(JM/KMcA)