A mother who ‘enabled’ the sexual abuse of her 12-year-old daughter had asked her doctor to prescribe her the contraceptive pill because she was ‘sexually active’.
The South n woman was found to have allowed her partner, the child’s stepfather, to abuse the girl between the ages of 12 to 16 before becoming involved in the abuse herself.
The couple, who were both sentenced to lengthy stints behind bars in the District Court, cannot be named for legal reasons.
‘Instead of protecting her you first enabled the sexual abuse of her permitting (the stepfather) to assault her and then you joined in his exploitation by engaging in sexual contact with him and (the girl),’ Judge Emily Telfer said, according to the Advertiser.
‘It is difficult to imagine a more gross breach of trust between a mother and daughter.’
The mother (pictured) was found to have ‘enabled’ her partner, the child’s stepfather, to abuse the girl between the ages of 12 to 16 before becoming involved in the abuse herself
The stepfather (pictured) was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison and set a non-parole period of eight years and seven months
The couple had previously been found guilty of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.
Judge Telfer jailed the mother for 10 years and three months with a non-parole period of seven years.
She had maintained her innocence in an appointment with a psychologist.
The stepfather was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison and set a non-parole period of eight years and seven months.
The daughter previously told the court: ‘[I] wanted to be treated like a daughter.
‘I remember staring out the window having tears roll down my face just wanting it to be over and done with, but there was no use fighting it because then I would get treated like crap again.’
Judge Telfer noted that it’s ‘impossible to properly summarise the destruction’ the pair had wrought on the girl’s life.
‘Despite what you did to her she is becoming a strong, smart and driven young woman.’