A man who sexually abused his stepdaughter was jailed for 5 1/2 years yesterday. Mr Justice O'Higgins said the offences committed on the girl when she was aged eight to nine were very serious.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting her on two unknown occasions on dates from June to December 1996.
He also pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault on a unknown date from January to April 1997. The judge directed that the man receive all necessary treatment while in jail.