Iqaluit man jailed after sex assault leaves niece with syphilis

An Iqaluit man will serve two years less a day for sexual assaulting his five-year-old niece in an "abhorrent" act that left the girl with syphilis.

The man had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual interference after he unsuccessfully tried to penetrate his brother's daughter while babysitting her in October 2013.

Nunavut Justice Robert Kilpatrick released a written judgment on Friday.

The man, who was 20 years old and homeless at the time, was staying at his brother's home when he was asked to look after the girl. When the two were alone, he took her to a bedroom, removed both of their pants, put on a condom and attempted to penetrate her. He eventually gave up but not before causing injury to the child's genitals.

When the child's mother returned home and saw the girl's injuries, she was taken to the hospital where she was treated. The child tested positive for syphillis, a sexually transmitted infection. Two months later, the accused was diagnosed with the same infection.

"This act is as abhorrent to Inuit culture as it is to mainstream Canadian society," Kilpatrick wrote in his judgment. 

"The fundamental Inuit value requiring respect of others, particularly respect of the very young and the very old, was violated by this conduct."

The man was sentenced to a total of 969 days of custody, minus 240 days of time served while in remand.