Man jailed for abusing stepdaughter

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A MAN started sexually abusing his teenage stepdaughter within one month of marrying her mother, a court has been told.

The 33-year-old man, who cannot be identified, married the girl's mother in April 2007 after they had been dating for about two years, the Brisbane District Court was told on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Dennis Kinsella said the man had a good relationship with his wife-to-be's daughter during that time, with the pair regularly going to the park and bike riding, and watching football on television.

However, within one month of the new marriage he started abusing the 13-year-old girl, the court was told.

The court was told the man would touch the girl on the breasts and genitals as she sat beside him on the lounge at their home in the Brisbane suburb of Tingalpa.

The abuse stopped after 10 months when the mother discovered what her new husband had been doing.

The man, who is now single, pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.

He was sentenced on Wednesday to three years' jail, suspended after 10 months.