Step brother jailed for seven years over serious sex offences

The man, who was a teenager when he raped one sister and buggered the other, will also spend three years on probation on release from prison, as well as signing the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

Following a trial held at Dungannon Crown Court the man, who now lives in the south Down area, was found guilty of a litany of offences committed against the sisters. Despite the convictions, he continues to deny the charges against him.

During the trial, the court and jury were told that the abuse against the girls was committed in the Co Tyrone family home around autumn 2003 and into spring of the following year. At the time of the abuse, the man was aged 14 to 15, while the sisters were aged seven/eight and nine/ten.

At Monday’s sentence hearing, held at Belfast Crown Court, Judge David Smyth QC said the abuse “swiftly progressed from the least serious to the most serious”.

Judge Smyth said that the jury’s verdict indicated members felt “both complainants were telling the truth”, and they rejected claims the sisters were “making false allegations for malicious reasons.”

The man had a clear record before conviction.