You were supposed to guide and counsel her to become a strong and confident young girl, however, you did exactly the opposite.

These were the words of Suva High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo while sentencing a 42-year-old father and church pastor to 15 years imprisonment charged with four counts indecent assault, rape and incest.

The court heard that the 42-year-old church pastor committed the offence in 2006 between January to May, when the victim who was his own daughter, was nine years and three months old.

The court also heard that the 42-year-old man, who was separated from his wife, had sole custody of his three daughters and the victim was the eldest of his children.

The father had pleaded guilty to the charges in an earlier High Court sitting.

Judge Temo said that he breached the parental trust placed on him and added that his daughter was already traumatized by the breakup of the family.

Justice Temo also said that she had looked for a fatherly support and guidance from him, however, he ruined her world by indecently assaulting her and then raping her.

Judge Temo also said that according to the victim impact report, the girl now has emotional mood swings and at times she cries without a reason, has very low self esteem and her school grades have deteriorated.