Crown counsel is seeking nine to 10 years in prison for a 43-year-old Prince George area man convicted of committing incest against his teenage daughter.
During a sentencing hearing Friday, the case was described as a "prolonged sexual victimization of an isolated and vulnerable child by the very person, and at the time the only person, she had to rely on to take care of her."
In February, Prince George provincial court judge Dan Weatherly found the man guilty of the offence following a trial, saying the verdict came down to the credibility of the witnesses.
On that aspect, he rejected much of what the man had to say.
Crown argued there are no mitigating factors to consider but there are "extensive" aggravating ones.
They included committing the acts weekly, then daily, causing physical pain and persisting psychological harm to the girl, including suicidal ideation, cutting herself and depression.
The man, who cannot be named under a court-ordered publication ban against information that would identify the victim, used physical and emotional violence to get his way, the court also heard.
The girl was in her father's care after her parents broke up.
"He was her point of last resort, he knew and he made sure she knew it too, repeatedly telling her that if she disclosed the abuse, she would be taken away to a group home," the court was told.
He had "groomed" his daughter, "capitalizing on her loneliness, lack of support and the absence of loving individuals and family members in her life."
The man also has a criminal record of five convictions, two of them for violent offences.
In a brief response, defence counsel said a sentence in the order of five to seven years was more appropriate.
The sentencing range for the offence is five to 14 years in prison.
The man continues to deny committing the offence, claiming the girl's mother put her up to concocting a story.
As he heard Crown's arguments Friday, he appeared agitated and occasionally shook his head and sighed as he sat next to his lawyer.
He was later taken into custody for allegedly trying to talk to his daughter during a break.
"You're wrong," the man told Weatherly when given a chance to speak to the court.
"Sir, that's all I can say is you're wrong. I did not do this."
Weatherly will issue his decision on sentencing at a later date.
