ONE day after a jury found him guilty of raping a 35-year-old woman back in 2018, Essequibo resident, Francis Gonsalves, was, on Wednesday, sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for the crime.

Gonsalves, 30, was sentenced by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Suddie High Court.

On Tuesday, a 12-member jury had found him guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with the victim.

According to reports, in the wee hours of March 27, 2018, the victim was walking home from a party when she was attacked and raped by Gonsalves.

The State was represented by prosecutor Tiffini Lyken, while Gonsalves was represented by attorney-at-law, Ravindra Mohabir.