admitted sexually assaulting his daughter.

The 45-year-old man asked for his daughter and family's forgiveness before being sentenced.

Crown Counsel Ms Sharon Kenny told Supreme Court that he sexually assaulted his daughter from January 1, 1988, when she was ten-years-old, to August 31, 1989.

The man, who was 40-years-old when the offences started, admitted assaulting his daughter between the time they moved abroad and returned to Bermuda.

His lawyer, Sen. Larry Scott told Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward that there were two victims in the case, the complainant and the attacker.

He added that his client was raised in a foster home and was sexually molested himself.

"The victim often becomes the attacker,'' Mr. Scott said.

"(The defendant) submitted himself to psychiatric counselling, and he is aware of what he has done. He took mature steps to deal with his problem.'' Ms Kenny said that the acts that occurred against the girl were "just short of sexual intercourse''.

"It is commendable that he sought treatment,'' she said. "But he should have sought it before he committed the crime.

"Children must be protected from adults, depression is not an excuse.'' When asked if he had anything to say, the defendant replied: "I am sorry for the pain I caused my family and my daughter, and I hope that someday they'll be able to forgive me.''