News / Education
Businessman (50) sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping lover's grandchild (10)
15 May 2012 at 04:45hrs | Views
A businessman operating in Plumtree town who raped his lover's 10-year-old granddaughter will regret ever thinking of committing the abuse when he was jailed for an effective 20 years.
The man, aged 50, who cannot be named so as to protect the child, pleaded not guilty to rape but was on Friday convicted by senior Western Division regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu.
In passing sentence the court said the man's blameworthiness was very high because he turned on a child who had been left in his custody by his wife.
Mr Tagu said the abuse calls for a lengthy custodial sentence to deter the man and like-minded persons who abuse children when they are asleep.
Mr Tinashe Dzipe prosecuting, said the girl stays in Gweru and between 2009 and 2010 she was staying with her grandmother in Plumtree and doing Grade Five.
The grandmother's lover would visit and stay for days or weeks with them.
On a day unknown to the prosecution the grandmother visited her rural home and left her lover and the child in the house.
The State proved that during the night the man sexually abused her and after that he threatened her and told her not to tell anyone.
She was later transferred and went to stay in Gweru and she told her aunt about what had happened. The aunt took the child to Childline where she related her experience.
A report was made at Gweru Central Police Station and it was later transferred to Plumtree Police Station leading to the man's arrest.
The man, aged 50, who cannot be named so as to protect the child, pleaded not guilty to rape but was on Friday convicted by senior Western Division regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu.
In passing sentence the court said the man's blameworthiness was very high because he turned on a child who had been left in his custody by his wife.
Mr Tagu said the abuse calls for a lengthy custodial sentence to deter the man and like-minded persons who abuse children when they are asleep.
Mr Tinashe Dzipe prosecuting, said the girl stays in Gweru and between 2009 and 2010 she was staying with her grandmother in Plumtree and doing Grade Five.
The grandmother's lover would visit and stay for days or weeks with them.
On a day unknown to the prosecution the grandmother visited her rural home and left her lover and the child in the house.
The State proved that during the night the man sexually abused her and after that he threatened her and told her not to tell anyone.
She was later transferred and went to stay in Gweru and she told her aunt about what had happened. The aunt took the child to Childline where she related her experience.
A report was made at Gweru Central Police Station and it was later transferred to Plumtree Police Station leading to the man's arrest.
Source - TC
