A Toronto man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for sexually assaulting his young daughter and giving her a sexually transmitted disease.

The man, 47, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, gave his daughter, 5, gonorrhea.

The incident occurred in July 2001. The man, a former labourer, was charged in 2002 and in October 2006 he was convicted of sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual interference.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Bonnie Croll told a Toronto courtroom that the girl may suffer from infertility later in life because of the disease.

If untreated, gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which in turn can damage the fallopian tubes.

Tests in 2002 showed that the girl had developed the same strain of gonorrhea as her father.

Croll used the words "repulsive" and "despicable" in court to describe the man's conduct. The man, who uses a motorized wheelchair, is also HIV-positive.

In court, the Crown had asked for a sentence of eight to 10 years, while the defence sought a conditional sentence of less than two years.

JUSTICE BAO WOULD HAVE CASTRATED THE BASTARD