A Prince George man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail Friday for sexually interfering with his granddaughter when she lived in his home between the ages of six and 10.
There is a ban on publication of the man's name because it could identify the victim.
Now 70 years old, he was found to have made continual sexual advances against the girl between December 1999 and April 2003 after she moved into the home to live with him and his common-law wife.
The victim, now 17 years old, did not tell anyone until she had reunited with her mother in Ontario roughly six years later and then went to police when she became concerned that her younger sister, who also lived in the home, may have become sexually abused.
In a victim impact statement, the girl said she continues to suffer from constant anxiety and fear and tried to hang herself on one occasion.
"I have a lot of anger inside me and I feel betrayed by my grandfather and abandoned by my mother for leaving me there," she said.
According to a pre-sentence reporter, the offender had an abusive childhood and a history of depression and was described as a caring, hardworking and faithful husband. However, the court also learned he had an extensive criminal record including a one-year sentence for abduction and a seven-year term for a rape involving a 15-year-old girl, both issued in the 1970s.
A psychiatric evaluation rated the man as possessing a moderate risk to re-offend.
Aggravating factors listed by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Frank Cole included the man's position of trust, the age and vulnerability of the victim and the nature of the sexual acts.
"Here, there was no penetration but the acts of masturbation and ejaculation are very intrusive sexual violations on this young child," Cole said.
The use of violence and force were also cited. On one occasion, when the girl resisted "he slapped her across the face and said 'you don't love your grandfather, do you,'" Cole said.
Mitigating factors included the man's age, his childhood and mental health. His willingness to take counselling was also raised, although Cole noted the psychiatrist questioned the man's sincerity in taking that route.
Crown counsel Cassandra Malfair had suggested a sentence of two-and-a-half to four years and defence lawyer Keith Aartsen recommend a two-year conditional sentence.
