A 38-year-old who sexually molested his daughter when she was 12 years old has been sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment.

The man was convicted in the Home Circuit Court on Thursday of incest, indecent assault and assault.

The Crown represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Caroline Hay heard evidence that on a day unknown in October 2006, the man indecently assaulted his daughter by rolling on top of her in bed and fondling her.

The man had a peculiar habit of telling the girl to pretend that she was bathing him.

On a day in October 2006 he forced the girl to have sexual intercourse with him. Evidence was also given that on another day in October 2006, the girl was on her way to a party when her father told her to return home. She came with some friends and he began to beat her mercilessly.

The girl managed to escape and made a report to relatives. The girl was living in a house with her father and grandmother when the offences were committed.

The matter was reported to the police and the father arrested and charged.

He said in his defence that his daughter was telling lies on him because he had beaten her.