A St Catherine man who on several occasions touched his stepdaughter inappropriately received a six-month prison sentence on Tuesday.

The man was sentenced in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court by Resident Magistrate Simone Maddix.

Before handing down the sentence, the judge told him that it was a very cruel thing he had done to the 13-year-old child.

''The child might never heal from the act of cruelty that you committed against her and as such a strong message must be sent to society that these acts will not be tolerated,'' Maddix said.

The accused was then told he would be sentenced to six months on each of the three counts of indecent assault; however, they will run concurrently.

Allegations in the case are that the stepdad on at least three occasions fondled his wife's daughter and an investigation led to his arrest and charge.