A Kuru Kuru man who sexually molested a differently-able 12-year-old girl at her home four years ago was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in the High Court yesterday shortly after the June sessions opened.

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Troy Charles, 32, who was indicted on a carnal knowledge charge, pleaded guilty before Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards. He was unrepresented and after judgment was handed down, calmly walked out of the courtroom.

State Counsel Melissa Yearwood-Stewart told the court that Charles knew the family and that sometime during the night of July 13, 2003 he carried the child to the bathroom located on the bottom flat of her home and raped her. The child told him to stop but he continued.

Before sentencing Charles, Justice Cummings-Edwards told him she considered his guilty plea and that he is a young man. However, she said, the court found his behaviour reprehensible.

"You took advantage of a poor, innocent child and your actions cannot be condoned. This court has zero tolerance for such behaviour," Justice Cummings-Edwards said.

In the facts presented by the prosecution, the court heard that Charles gave the child $600 after committing the act. The girl was later spotted with the money and when questioned, she revealed what had happened. A report was made and Charles was arrested.

The medical examination, which was read in court revealed that the child's hymen was not intact and that there were bruises to the walls of the vagina. Further, the prosecutor told the court that the incident had a negative impact on the girl who is now 16 years old.