Sunshine Coast grandfather jailed over sexual abuse

A grandfather who sexually abused his young granddaughter for a decade has been jailed.

The now 80-year-old Sunshine Coast man appeared in Maroochydore District Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual abuse committed between 2003 and 2013- when the girl was five to 15-years-old, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

The man touched the girl inappropriately, made her touch him, watched her in the shower, kissed her and rubbed his genitals against her body, the court heard.

Most of the abuse occurred between 2004 and 2008 when the grandfather and his wife were staying with the young girl’s family.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks described the attacks as ‘brazen’ and said they often occurred when other family members were in the same house.

‘It was one of the most serious breaches of trust – that of the grandfather granddaughter relationship – particularly in circumstances where the relationship was otherwise strong and the children were often left in his care,’ Ms Marks said.

The victim, now an adult, said her grandfather had inflicted lasting consequences on her.

The grandfather was sentenced to five years in jail.

The now 80-year-old Sunshine Coast man appeared in Maroochydore District Court on Thursday