A 42-year-old Didsbury man has been sentenced to three years in a federal penitentiary for sex crimes involving his daughter.The three-year term ñ handed down by Judge Eugene Creighton during a sentencing hearing at Didsbury Provincial Court March 10 ñ is a global sentence for charges of sexual contact with a person under the age of 16, and sexual assault. The accused pled guilty to both charges.The charges are related to incidents that spanned several years, ending in 2007.The court heard Crown prosecutor Deven Singhal relay the agreed upon facts related to the offences, which included the man touching, kissing, and performing oral sex on the victim, that started when she was 11 years old.According to Singhal's report of the facts, the abuse ended in July of 2007, when the victim told her father that she would tell her mother about what had been occurring.The court heard that the victim later shared some details of the abuse with her mother.A lock was placed on the victim's bedroom door, Singhal said, and on a day when the victim had a friend over to her family home for a social visit, the friend noticed the lock.ìHer friend said she was lucky to have a lock on the door,î Singhal said.That's when the victim disclosed to her friend what the lock was for.The visiting friend later told her own mother what she had heard from the victim, and the friend's mother passed the information on to the police.ìThere is no doubt that this will impact the girl for as long as she lives,î Creighton said.Defence attorney for the accused, Brian Forestell, sought a two and a half year jail term for his client.ìThese are heinous offences,î Forestell said, adding that his client took immediate responsibility and has cooperated with the police. Forestell said the accused also sought help from a local pastor.ìI completely recognize the atrocities that I have committed,î said the accused, when Creighton offered him the opportunity to speak.Creighton said he took into consideration letters that were written by members of the community, including people who attend the family's church.ìI do acknowledge the letters of support, most describing the accused as being a changed man,î Creighton said.Creighton added that while he acknowledged that those who wrote letters may be more familiar with the accused than his daughter, he noted a lack of reference to the victim.ìWhat stood out to me is that they seem to have forgotten about the victim.îCreighton was also provided letters written by the victim, the accused, and the victim's mother.According to Creighton, the victim's letter indicated that she has forgiven her father.In addition to the jail term, Creighton ordered the accused to provide a sample of his DNA, prohibited him from entering an area where children under the age of 16 would gather, and prohibited him from owning a weapon for 10 years.A publication ban has restricted reporting the name of the accused.
