THIRTY-year-old Trevon Giles, the unemployed man charged with raping an underaged girl, was on Thursday sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court of the Georgetown High Court.

The sentence was handed down following the hearing of a probation report, an impact statement from the victim, and a plea of mitigation from defence counsel. Justice Barlow told the court that having listened to all the evidence, she particularly took into consideration the victim’s impact statement, which disclosed that the 15-year-old was tricked by the accused into thinking that he was a doctor, and accepted his invitation to visit his home, where he committed the act.

Justice Barlow said the convict not only violated the trust the teen placed in him, but also gave her medication, knowing fully well he was not a doctor.

She said, too, that though he had had a proper upbringing, Giles deliberately turned his back on it and took advantage of the girl, and as such, court action must be taken to send a strong message to sexual offenders.

As probation officer, Ms Pamela Atwell observed in her report, the accused is claiming he was framed for both the current and another matter he has pending in the High Court.

But at his last place of employ, where he was fired for the alleged theft of diesel, she said, he was described by his colleagues as pompous, and a trickster, who likes to borrow money and not repay it.

Atwell also told the court that the victim related to her that she is deeply affected by the incident, and that it has taken a toll on her both emotionally and academically, to the extent that she’s often thought of committing suicide.

In summary, Ms Atwell told the court that even though the accused claims he is innocent, what’s been done to the victim is unacceptable and cannot be condoned. She said, too, that not only is the victim still being counselled, but she’s still trying to find her way back in society, and as such, justice must prevail.

Meanwhile, in his plea of mitigation, defence attorney, Clyde Forde told the court that his client’s medical condition ought to be taken into account, and asked for leniency in his sentencing, so he could serve his time and be able to be reunited with his family and daughter.

Giles was found guilty on one of two counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16 when a 12-member jury deliberated for more than two hours on April 11 in the Sexual Offences Court of the Georgetown High Court/

On the first count, that he engaged in sexual penetration on January 14, 2016, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict, while on the second, that he engaged in sexual penetration on January 17, 2016, they arrived at a unanimous not guilty verdict.

The state was represented by Ms Abigail Gibbs, Ms Narissa Leander and Ms Tiffini Lyken.