A stepfather was jailed yesterday for the sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old girl.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted two counts of the sexual exploitation of a young person while in a position of trust and of committing an indecent act.

Brett Webber, Crown Counsel, said the offences took place on the morning of August 6 while the girl's mother and brother were out at work.

After waking up, the girl went downstairs to the living room where her stepfather was watching television. He asked her if she would shave his beard, something she had only done previously in the evenings when her mother was home.

Mr. Webber said the stepfather promised to give her $100, but then asked her to close the kitchen blinds and lock the front door.

"At that time she was confused and did not know what he was going to do," said Mr. Webber.

The court was told that the stepfather partially stripped, exposing himself to the girl and requested she shave his private areas.

Mr Webber said: "She complied with his request although felt uncomfortable."

He said the stepfather then asked the girl to rub in some lotion and said he would give her $200 for doing so.

"She told him 'no', she just didn't want to," said Mr. Webber. The girl told her mother what happened the next day, as she "felt afraid".

Police arrested the 37-year-old man and on August 10, after originally denying the allegations, he admitted his guilt in a Police interview.

Mr. Webber said: "He said he had lied in previous interviews as he was ashamed of what he had done. He said he did not know what had possessed him and that he needed to see a psychiatrist."

Defence lawyer Craig Attridge said: "The man denies money was offered for any of these acts. But certainly it is accepted by the defendant that the victim is in no way to blame for these offences."

Mr. Attridge added: "He is confused as to why she did not take greater steps to stop him. He is not trying to pass blame on the 12-year-old."

But Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "He must be a mad man or an idiot to expect that of a 12-year-old girl."

He jailed the man for two years with three years probation, on condition to attend all rehabilitation programmes recommended by Court Services.