Belfast man admits over a dozen sex offences against own daughter

By Paul Higgins

A Belfast man has admitted to committing a catalogue of sex offences against his own daughter.

Appearing at Craigavon Crown Court via videolink from prison the 40-year-old, who cannot be identified for protect his victim, entered guilty pleas to a total of 16 offences committed against her.

Included among the 16 charges, all committed on various dates between 31 December 2016 and 10 December 2018, are four counts of rape, three attempted rape, six of attempting to incite his daughter to engage in sexual activity, two of sexual assault involving and one of attempted intimidation.

None of the facts surrounding the catalogue of abuse has been opened in court but the particulars of that offence outline that he threatened to rape his daughter if she did not take an indecent photograph of herself.

At an earlier hearing, the 40-year-old admitted three offences of taking and possessing an indecent image of a child.

Following the perverts confessions today (fri), prosecuting QC Philip Mateer asked for two further rape charges to be “left on the books” while defence QC Gavan Duffy told the court he would be lodging reports from probation and a psychologist ahead of the sentencing hearing.

Remanding the 40-year-old back into custody, Judge Patrick Lynch QC advised him to co-operate with those compiling the various reports as “it’s in your own best interests” and said he would pass sentence on 25 September.