Man jailed for sex with daughter

A PENSIONER who fathered three children by his daughter has been jailed for two years.

The man, now 71, began a sexual relationship with the woman, now 46, after he was widowed and her marriage had ended. The incestuous relationship continued for 13 years.

A judge yesterday said he took into account that no force had been used. The man, who cannot be named, admitted having unlawful sex with his daughter at a house in the Highlands between 1985 and 1998.

Advocate-depute Andrew Miller said: "The sexual relationship was at the instigation of the father. She had concerns but was unable to raise them."

Intercourse started two years after the man's wife died. The daughter returned to live with him after separating from her husband.

The offences remained secret for years but when they eventually came to light, the man admitted to police that he had fathered three children, all under 16. He said it was consensual sex and had developed over time.

Defence counsel Shahid Latif asked for leniency for the man at the High Court in Edinburgh. He said the father was genuinely ashamed and remorseful. He had never been in trouble before and had pleaded guilty as early as possible to avoid a trial.

Lord Woolman said he would have imposed a sentence of three years, but the man was entitled to a discount for his early plea of guilty.

"You did not use force. The children think of you as their father and your daughter will be upset if you go to prison," the judge told the man.

"She has mild learning difficulties which was used by you to persuade her to start and continue an incestuous relationship. You continued to have intercourse over a long period of time. She became pregnant as no contraceptive measures were taken. She has suffered harm."