A FACTORY worker who repeatedly molested his young daughter over two years wept in court yesterday as he heard how she had forgiven him. The father was jailed for three years after his counsel read out a letter from the girl, then 13, saying she wanted him back home. The defendant, who cannot be named, admitted three sample counts of indecent assault and one of attempted incest between January 1, 1992, and April 30, 1994. But he denied 10 further counts of indecent assault and incest against the girl and her younger sister. Passing sentence at the High Court, Deputy Judge Burrell said: 'Such conduct is abhorrent to a civilised society which places great importance and emphasis on family values and family life. The sentences . . . must reflect society's repugnance. Any sexual abuse of children, particularly your own, is inexcusable.' The judge rejected the defendant's claims he had only assaulted his daughter four or five times saying he believed the abuse happened regularly. Prosecutor Richard Donald told how the factory worker started molesting his elder daughter when she was 13 after his marriage hit the rocks. The girl was too afraid to struggle or shout for help and pretended to be asleep when he touched her after climbing into her bed. Once she was awoken by her father stroking her. He then lay on top of her intending to have sex with her. The history of abuse only came to light this year when the girl confided in an aunt. Defence counsel Joe Kenny claimed the factory worker had been 'father and mother' to the two girls after his wife, a mahjong addict, left the family home. In a moving letter read out in court the daughter, now 16, begged the judge to pass a light sentence on her father. 'I am willing to forgive him. My father has brought me up, taken care of me and loved me. I hope your lordship will pass a lenient sentence on my father so that he can be released soon and turn over a new leaf.' A note on the back of a photograph she had sent to her father in prison read: 'We are always your daughters. We will never forget you. With greatest love.' A letter from her sister said: 'We don't want you to be sent to prison, but it's the law. We cannot change our [witness] statements or we will be sent to a girls' home.' Deputy Judge Burrell jailed him for 18 months for each indecent assault to run concurrently and 18 months for the attempted incest to run consecutively.
