Change of plea from father who beat daughter with belt

October sentence date for man who assaulted child

A Douglas man who beat his daughter with a slipper and a belt, before forcing her to kneel in punishment, will be sentenced in September.

The defendant, who can’t be named for legal reasons, admitted wilfully assaulting his child between 1 and 22 December last year.

He’d previously denied the offence and had been due to stand trial in October but was rearraigned at Douglas Courthouse and changed his plea.

The prosecutor told the court the man had hit the teenager with various items, struck her with his fist and the palm of his hand and banged her head against a wall repeatedly.

He also made her kneel in a praying position and told her: “What have I done to deserve such a horrible daughter?”

She suffered injuries to her knuckles, wrists, face, knees and shins.

Messages that were sent in a family WhatsApp group, to his daughter, were said to be ‘controlling’ and included threats to pull her out of school.

The court heard the teen had referred the matter to the Department of Health and Social Care herself and is now in foster care.

Her father was arrested and told police officers his daughter was a ‘compulsive liar’, who was not appropriately managing a medical condition, and was making allegations against him as she didn’t want to be homeschooled.  

A social enquiry report has been requested before the man is sentenced on 26 September.

Bail was granted until that date with High Bailiff Jayne Hughes warning him all sentencing options are open to the court including custody.

The man’s wife, who had been charged with assaulting their daughter between the same dates, also appeared at Douglas Courthouse.

The prosecutor offered no evidence and the charge against her was dismissed.