Sisters Tell Sydney Court Sex Abuse by Parents 'Destroyed' Their Lives

More candidates for 'parents of the year'

By David Spicer, ABC News

Two sisters have told a Sydney court their lives have been ruined by their parents' "putrid acts of torture" and sexual abuse over a 15-year period.

The northern New South Wales women, who can not be named for legal reasons, gave victim impact statements at a sentencing submissions hearing at the Downing Centre District Court today.

Their father was convicted of 86 child sex offences and their mother of 13 offences at an earlier hearing

The incest and sexual abuse began when one of the girls was five years old, the court heard.

On a number of occasions, the girls were restrained, raped and tortured.

The first daughter to give evidence focused her statement on the conduct of her mother.

The court heard that after her fourth birthday, her life grew worse year by year.

"You chose not to protect your daughters," she said.

"You have destroyed my life. It is impossible for me to explain the pain I live in every day.
"A mother is supposed to look after and protect us.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

During the trial the jury was told the girl's mother participated in some of the abuse.

'Confidence, self esteem robbed from me'

Their father took them to sporting events and would sometimes abuse them in cars, and in their bedrooms on "special occasions".

Another daughter told the court that Father's Day "always reminds me of the sexual acts I was forced to perform".

She said that flashbacks of her father's "putrid acts of torture" and "unspeakable acts" are brought back to her on a daily basis.

"My childhood was a living hell. My confidence and self esteem was robbed from me. I am consumed by suicidal thoughts and hate."

During today's hearing, the father also gave evidence, maintaining that he was not guilty of the offences.

He did, however, take responsibility for emotional abuse of his family and wept whilst urging the judge to be lenient on his wife.

The father has been in jail for three years awaiting the outcome of the trial.

Judge Felicia Huggett told the court today that the abuse was "systemic and prolonged" over many years.

She noted that the most serious of the offences — sexual intercourse with a child under six — carried a maximum of 20 years in jail.

Sexual intercourse with a child under 6 should carry a 'minimum' sentence of 20 years.

The judge will announce the sentence on October 27.