Uncle jailed for sexually abusing two nieces

A Co Antrim man who sexually abused his two nieces was sent to jail for 14 months today (Monday).

Sentencing and Background

The 37-year old - who can’t be named to protect the identity of his two victims - will spend an additional 14 months on licence when he is released from prison. He appeared at Belfast Crown Court today and was sentenced for a total of 17 historic sexual abuse offences by Judge Gordon Kerr KC. As he sent the defendant to jail, Judge Kerr said the abuse occurred in the girls grandmother’s home where they were entitled to feel safe. He also branded the defendant’s offending as a breach of trust.

Details of the Abuse

The defendant targeted the first victim when she was aged around eight and indecently assaulted her on dates between February 2, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The court heard that when she disclosed to her mother then the PSNI what had occurred, she recalled the first incident in her uncle’s bedroom. Both her and her brother were in the bedroom and her brother wanted to play with a musical instrument. After her brother left the room, she was told by her uncle that she could have the instrument but only if she did something for him. He then started abusing the child in an incident she recalled lasted for around 40 seconds. She also spoke about the last incident which took place when her grandmother had to attend a hospital appointment. The victim recalled watching TV, her uncle coming into the room and being abused by him for around ten to 15 seconds which left her feeling cold and sore. Her older sister was also sexually abused by the defendant over a period spanning from November 4, 1998 to January 1, 2003. She initially made a complaint to the PSNI in January 2003 when she was aged seven but they were not the subject of any proceedings. When her youngster sister contacted the PSNI, the initial complaints she made in 2003 were referred to the PPS. The abuse she suffered was accompanied by threats that he would hit her if he didn’t do what he asked. She told police some of the abuse occurred while her uncle played what she described as ‘the horsey game’ with her. After the offending came to light, the defendant was arrested and interviewed - and at this point he denied the claims made by his nieces. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges comprising of 12 counts of indecent assault, three counts of gross indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Sentencing Remarks

Judge Kerr highlighted several aggravating factors which included the abuse occurring in their grandmother’s home where the victims “should have felt safe” and, in some instances, there was “skin on skin contact”. The Judge also spoke of a breach of trust and the difference in age between the abuser and his victims. Also taken into consideration were defence submissions which set out the defendant’s remorse, his admissions of guilt, his immaturity at the time and his below-average intelligence. Judge Kerr told the court he had read Victim Impact Statements which detailed the long-term effect the childhood abuse has had on them. In her statement, the youngster sister spoke of ongoing trauma and suffering from panic attacks, whilst her older sibling said what she suffered as a child has had an impact on her relationships in adulthood. Noting that some of the defendant’s offending took place when he himself was a youth, Judge Kerr said he accepted defence reports which suggest he has undiagnosed autism which may have affected his behaviour. Also noted by the Judge was that despite being spoken to by police in 2003 about his behaviour regarding the older sister, the defendant went on to target and abuse the younger sister. As well as imposing the 28-month sentence, Judge Kerr also made the defendant the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.