A man accused of inappropriately touching his former stepdaughter in Nanaimo is on trial in BC Supreme Court. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

disturbing allegations

Man on trial for alleged sex offence against former stepdaughter

Oct 11, 2023 | 5:30 AM

Editors note — this article contains details of alleged sexual abuse that may disturb some readers. Discretion is advised.

NANAIMO — Testifying at length against her former stepfather, a young Nanaimo woman said she was afraid to speak out against his behaviour for a long time.

A 51-year-old man is on trial in BC Supreme Court in Nanaimo charged with sexual interference involving a person under the age of 16.

NanaimoNewsNOW is not identifying the accused as doing so would likely reveal the alleged victim’s identity who’s protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

On Tuesday, Oct.10, the opener of a planned three-day judge-alone trial, the 20-year-old victim told court she was fondled on three consecutive mornings in 2017 or 2018 while waking up prior to going to school.

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She was 14 or 15 years old at the time of the incidents, which she said all occurred when the two were the only people in the Nanaimo home.

With the defendant sitting 20 feet away, she said on each occasion he reached under her shirt and rubbed her nipples.

After the third alleged incident, she said he asked her what was wrong, leading to her confronting him, she testified.

She said he didn’t realize what he was doing and that if she told her mother he would get in a lot of trouble and go to jail.

“This was a manipulative statement and after hearing that I kept these incidents to myself. I was afraid of what was to come if I did say anything.”

She told court she didn’t want to ruin her mother’s relationship with him.

The accused lived in the home with the complainant and her mother for five years.

He allegedly exposed and rubbed his penis on a nearly nightly basis while watching television with the complainant.

She said his penis was in full view as he laid down on the couch.

“(I was) very confused how a grown man would see it acceptable needing to expose himself in front of a child and then somehow become bashful and cover himself up when my mom was coming into the room.”

After telling court she confronted him three times about exposing himself, she said he didn’t realize what he was doing and promised to stop.

She also said the accused came into her room prior to going to sleep and placed his hand on the covers above her vagina multiple times.

A nearly hour-long voluntary videoed interview at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment between the accused and lead investigator Cst. Sarah Mottishaw was played in court and accepted as admissible evidence.

In the May 2020 video, he flatly denied inappropriately reaching under her shirt.

“No, I would never do anything like that, ever,” he told the officer, stating he pulled her shoulder in an effort to wake her up for school.

As for the genital-exposing allegations, he said it’s possible that happened, but maintained if it had occurred it was not intentional and that he was just relaxing.

“If it happened before I had no knowledge of it. I didn’t purposely do anything to expose myself.”

Cross-examination of the complainant by defence attorney Ryan Drury began late Tuesday and is expected to continue on Wednesday morning.

It’s unclear if the accused will testify.

The case is overseen by veteran Supreme Court justice Robin Baird.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes