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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 19-year-old Yellowknife man was sentenced to two years less a day last week for repeatedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old sister over a three-month period.

In territorial court Wednesday the man pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault stemming from four reported incidents that took place from Aug. 1 to Oct. 29, 2008, while his non-biological siblings lived in the same home.

The man was 18-years-old at the time of the offences.

The incidents occurred in the room where the victim slept, once on the floor of the bedroom, according to a joint statement from the Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer submitted to Judge Brian Bruser.

Bruser did not mince words, calling the offences rape and scoffing at an argument made by defence lawyer Hugh Latimer that the offences caused no physical signs of injury.

"The injury to the victim has been significant," said Bruser.

Latimer characterized his client as immature and said the man felt remorse "because he can't undo what he has already done."

He asked for leniency in sentencing because his client had no previous violent offences on his record and because he is on "the threshold of life."

"So is his victim," said Bruser in response.

According to the facts recited in court, the man has some degree of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and Bruser said his actions "show impulsiveness."

The man looked down during sentencing, after apologizing for his actions and what they have put his family through.

In addition to jail time, the man will be on probation for three years after he is released from jail, and will be required to file his name with the sex offender registry for 20 years.

Bruser also ordered restrictions preventing the man from participating in activities that would bring him in contact with children, banning him from places such as parks and swimming pools, and excluding him from working in areas where children might be around.