Man, 69, gets jail for molesting stepdaughter, 15
She was his stepdaughter and 54 years younger, but he still preyed on the 15-year-old girl for sexual gratification.
On Jan 22 this year, he groped her breast and squeezed her left buttock.
He took his perversions a step further an hour later when he tried to make her touch his private parts.
Yesterday, the 69-year-old stepfather, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the girl's identity, was jailed nine months for molesting her.
Court papers said the stepfather is a United States citizen who was here on a dependent's pass.
He married the girl's mother last July and moved in with them as well as with the girl's brother.
But he destroyed that familial trust when he preyed on his stepdaughter.
At about 3pm that day, the girl was using her tablet in the living room when he approached her, tapped her on her midriff and told her to go into the kitchen for lunch.
He walked off, but returned a minute later and tapped her on the same spot. The girl waved her hand in acknowledgement, but her stepfather continued tapping her.
He then lifted the side of her shirt and exposed her bra. He went on to slide his hand under her bra and groped her breast for five seconds.
He also slipped his hand into her tights, squeezed her left buttock for a few seconds, and kissed her body and neck.
The girl did not resist as she was paralysed with fear. He then attempted to pull down her tights.
At this point, the girl's brother returned home, prompting the stepfather to stop and let her brother into the flat.
EXPOSED
Court papers said the stepfather preyed on the girl again an hour later by pulling her left hand towards his exposed private parts.
His offences came to light after the girl confided in a staff member of her school with whom she had a close relationship.
The school notified the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the girl's mother took her to file a police report.
Yesterday, the stepfather pleaded guilty to one count of outrage of modesty, with another taken into consideration for sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amanda Chong said in her submissions that the victim was very young and her stepfather had abused the trust and authority as a parent.
She added that it was only fortuitous that the girl's brother returned home, prompting the stepfather to stop molesting the girl in the first instance.
The accused, who was not represented by a lawyer, said he was sorry and pleaded for leniency.
He could have been jailed up to two years and fined.
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