A mum married the predator who sexually abused her 15-year-old daughter after she accused the girl of lying, a court heard.
The mother, who cannot be named, forced her child out of the family house after branding her a home-wrecker.
But a court heard the teenager was actually abused by her step-father for several months.
The paedophile, in his early 50s, has now been jailed for two years, reports Leicestershire Live.
Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “The mother didn’t believe the complainants were, in fact, true.
“It’s hard to overstate the impact the abuse has had on your step-daughter and the family.
“Her mother disbelieved the allegations and is estranged from her own daughter – but the allegations are true and you accept they are true by your guilty pleas.
“On no fewer than four occasions you did the physical acts described.
“Quite apart from the estrangement from her mother, the abuse has had a profound and damaging impact upon her.
“There was a significant age difference between you and her.
“You were in a position of trust and you abused that trust in a very serious way.
“You persisted with this offending for a lengthy period of time.”
The defendant admitted three counts of sexual assaults upon the girl, which each happened in the family home in Leicestershire.
Charges of possessing extreme pornography, images of animal bestiality, which the man denied, will “lie on file”.
Nicola Moore, prosecuting, said: “She was 15 when she told the police the defendant was sexually abusing her.
“She told some friends and one insisted she take the matter further or she might not have done so as she was worried about what it would to do the family – and she was right about those concerns.”
Miss Moore said the girl thought it strange that when she was wearing pyjamas the defendant told her he “liked it if she wore a particular nightdress.”
The defendant began by touching her breasts, despite her efforts to move away.
It progressed to more intimate touching on four occasions and he also made her touch him indecently about three times.
The child hinted to her biological father about matters, by saying the defendant would walk into her bedroom without knocking and social services became involved.
Miss Moore said: “Afterwards she was isolated from the family.
“Her mother disowned her and she was made to feel she was breaking up the family.
“Shortly after the allegations were made the mother married the defendant which caused loss of contact with the daughter.”
Amy Jackson, defendant, said the man, who had worked hard all his life, lost his job because of the offences.
He took on a role as carer for other members of his family, despite his own struggle with ill-health.
“He’s expressed shame and disgust about his actions and understands the pain he’s caused,” she said.