Child molester spared jail

A 27-year-old man, who was in the dock facing one count of indecently assaulting a teenager, was yesterday spared a custodial sentence after it emerged he was a Form Three pupil.

Simon Ncube of Musemesi village, Chief Nyika in Mhondoro-Ngezi, was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba, who sentenced him to 10 months' imprisonment.

However, four months of the jail term was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while a further six months was set aside on condition he performs 210 hours of unpaid work at Vera Clinic outside school hours.

In handing down sentence, the magistrate said he had taken into consideration that accused, at his age, was still trying to sort out his life by attaining education.

Gwazemba, however, said the sex attack on the juvenile was a serious offence punishable by a custodial sentence.