JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, sentenced 66-year-old pensioner to serve 19 years’ imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl.

George Robin, a shop owner of #30 Village, West Coast Berbice, was, earlier this month, convicted by a 12-member mixed jury and was found guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with a 16-year-old girl in 2017.

On Tuesday, a probation report was read in court by Probation Officer and Social Worker, Meesha Grenville.

The probation officer told the court that Robin had previously served in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and lived all his life in the #30 Village.
Based on an assessment done at Robin’s home, the probation officer said that the accused was described as a jovial individual who worked hard to sustain his family.
Robin was involved in three past relationships and was the father of 12.

The probation officer told the court that villagers in Robin’s community said that he was known for his perverted behaviour towards young girls in the village.
It was revealed that Robin was involved in a relationship with an underaged girl in the village and she later gave birth to a child for him. However, the matter was never reported to the police.

The probation officer explained that Robin also had operated a shop at a nearby primary school in the village.

However, based on reports, Robin would request kisses from the school girls. The probation officer reported that Robin committed the acts on a Grade three schoolgirl and when a teacher confronted him he said that he was showing the girl his dentures.

“Vain and vulgar” were just two simple words that described Robin the probation officer in her report said as he asked the judge for justice and physical healing to commence for the victim.

The victim’s impact statement was read in court by Counsellor and Court Support Officer, Celeste Mullin. The victim, in her statement, said that she was saddened by what Robin had done to her since it caused her to be depressed.

“I would like to forget about it, but I don’t know if I ever can” the victim said in her impact statement.

Robin was represented by attorney-at-law Maxwell McKay. The attorney in mitigation told the court that the probation report describes Robin as a “kind and supportive elder, who genuinely contributed to his community.”

The Judge before sentencing Robin, said onto him “I will send you to a structured environment where you will benefit from medical attention and religious intervention.”
While reflecting on the probation report, Justice Reynolds told the defendant “You seem to have two sides, a community leader on one side and another man on the other hand”
The Judge sentenced Robin to 19 years behind bars.

The state’s case was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Seeta Bishundial.