The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with seven counts of indecent and sexual assault stemming from allegations he molested his niece in the 1980s and his step-granddaughter in the mid-2000s.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, however Judge Andrew Heasler found him guilty of all but one of the offences following a judge-alone trial in Wollongong District Court in April.

When handing down the verdicts, Judge Haesler said the man’s attempts to “blame everyone but himself” for his actions damaged his credibility in the witness box.

“His version of events smacked of invention and fantasy designed to resolve himself of responsibility,” he said. “His evidence showed no coherence; he was evasive, inventive and inconsistent.”

Judge Haesler maintained that belief when sentencing the man in court on Friday.

“He has not resiled from his position of believing his own innocence,” he said.  

“He has shown no remorse or contrition.”

The man’s step-granddaughter gave evidence during the trial of her grandfather digitally penetrating her once while they were on holidays, and raping her in the family home when she was nine or 10 years old.

Meantime, the man’s niece recounted an incident of molestation at the hands of her uncle when she too was around eight years old in the early 1980s.

Judge Haesler imposed a non-parole period of seven years.

With time already served, the man will be eligible for parole in 2024.