Canberra man Brian Wilson jailed over sex offences against daughters, other girls
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Two daughters of a Canberra man jailed for multiple child sex offences have told of feeling "trapped and terrified" as a result of the abuse, as he was sentenced to at least five years' jail.
Brian Wilson, 75, was convicted in September of 12 charges of molesting and committing acts of indecency against four young girls.
Two of the victims were his first and third daughters, while the others spent time at his home in a childcare arrangement.
He was found guilty of nine of the offences, and pleaded guilty to three at the start of his trial - but disputed some of the facts.
Among the offences, committed in the 1980s and early 1990s, was sexual intercourse with a person under 10 years of age.
Most of the abuse was committed within Wilson's home, in the victims' bedrooms or in his room.
On Tuesday, the ACT Supreme Court sentenced Wilson to 10 years in jail, with a five-year non-parole period.
In sentencing Wilson, Justice Michael Elkaim spoke of the victims' "tender age" and "vulnerability" at the time of the offences.
He said some discount was included in the sentence for the three guilty pleas, but it was "minimal" as they were likely only entered due to the overwhelming evidence.
Victims seek to 'rebuild' and create a 'new normal'
In an emotional victim impact statement to the court, one victim spoke of her ongoing emotional trauma.
"For as long as I can remember, I have felt fear and a sense of being trapped and paralysed," she said.
"Even as an adult, throughout the whole of my life, I have felt the same fear and sense of being trapped.
"Trapped by the secret I couldn't tell ... trapped by the shame that should not have been mine ... trapped by having to lie and pretend to those closest to me that everything was OK."
Another victim spoke of "growing up locked in the darkness of the house and [Wilson's] presence".
"I had my 'normal' taken away from me," she said.
Judge considers fragile health of offender
Justice Elkaim said Wilson was "clearly an unwell man", with multiple physical and mental health issues which needed to be considered in sentencing.
Medical reports had given him a life expectancy of six or seven years, and Justice Elkaim stated Wilson may die in jail.
He said Wilson was unlikely to re-offend, if only because of his health condition.
Wilson will be eligible for release in October 2021.
Topics: sexual-offences, courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, canberra-2600, act, australia
