A man in his late twenties has been sentenced to thirty-eight months in prison after pleading guilty to having sexual intercourse with a thirteen-year-old girl he first contacted through social media. According to Antigua.news, the man was fully aware of the child's age before carrying out the abuse.
The court heard that the accused first reached out to the child online in early 2022, and the two began exchanging messages. During those conversations, the girl disclosed that she was thirteen years old. The man, who told her he was twenty-five, chose to continue pursuing her regardless.
Knowing her age, he arranged to meet the child in a secluded area near her home. In April 2022, he sexually abused her at that location. He offended again in July of the same year.
The abuse came to light in November 2022, when a report was made to police, triggering a formal investigation that ultimately brought the case before the courts.
The trial began in January of this year but was cut short after just two days when the defendant changed his plea to guilty. The move came after his attempt to have his confession ruled inadmissible failed.
On Wednesday, the court handed down a sentence of thirty-eight months imprisonment.
