Man arrested for raping church-mate

A 32-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo who allegedly lured his church-mate's granddaughter to his house during a church service and went on to rape her has been arrested.

A court heard Pervical Beechy (32) of Baptist church in the city centre allegedly spent a night with a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named for ethical reasons at his house in Sauerstown suburb.

Beechy on Wednesday appeared before magistrate Ms Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze facing a charge of rape.

Ms Msipa-Marondedze did not ask him to plead and remanded him in custody to April 19.

Prosecuting, Ms Caroline Matanga said on January 6 this year, Beechy met the girl at Baptist church and asked her to accompany him to his house.

"At the accused`s place of residence, the accused person gave the complainant bread and a soft drink to eat. After that, he told the complainant that he was pleased by her visit and wanted to thank her by having sexual intercourse with her," she said.

"The complainant refused but the accused person raped her. In the middle of the night, the accused person raped the complainant for the second time."

Ms Matanga said on the following day, Beechy took the girl with him and spent the whole day roaming the streets so that the police could not find them.

The matter came to light when the victim's grandmother reported the issue to the police leading to the arrest of Beechy.