JUSTICE Dawn Gregory took a very serious view of the rape of a 13-year-old girl and had expected that a probation report would have accompanied the sentencing phase.The judge had ordered the report some days ago after the jury found Sherwin Sharples guilty.
But yesterday the judge was told that the probation report would not be ready until a certain time, but by then two members of the jury would be out of the jurisdiction.
The judge then decided to base her sentence on the evidence and the circumstances of the case.
The judge took into account that the accused and the girl were neighbours, and the child was 13 years old at the time the offence was committed.
It was noted also that the accused was 40 years old and that when he was indulging in the sexual violation of the girl with his finger, he had enquired from the victim, “Do you love me?”
The judge also considered that the accused had gone into the home behind the girl. In the circumstances, the judge said, “I am going to sentence you to eight years imprisonment.”
The accused committed the offence on the 10th of June, 2013 in the county of Demerara, where he penetrated the child of 13 years with his finger.
It was hoped that the punishment would serve as a deterrent.

By George Barclay