Daughter-rape pensioner jailed for 16 years

Jailing the 66-year-old man at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told him: “You brought these children into the world. They were entitled to turn to you for love, affection and care.”

But instead “over a period of five years you subjected your children to systematic abuse with no regard for their feelings or well being simply to satisfy your own sexual depravity. It is difficult to imagine a more serious breach of trust.”

“Your children, as is often the case, were afraid to complain about it to their mother because they were frightened of the consequences.”

The father admitted two charges of rape, and other sexual charges including sexual activity with a child family member and inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity.

Jason Pitter, prosecuting, said the offences came to light when the older girl told a boyfriend what had happened to her and he persuaded her to report the matter.

Inquiries revealed the abuse had started against her when she was 11 and she was raped for the first time at the age of 13. The second time it happened her father described her as sexy.

When he was finally arrested he suggested he had only had “friendly romps” with the older girl a few times and denied anything with the other.

Rodney Ferm, representing the pensioner, said his guilty pleas indicated his remorse. He accepted losing all contact with them as a result.