A 72-year-old farmer from St. Catherine has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to serious offences involving three of his step-grandchildren. On Thursday, the Home Circuit Court handed him a combined 60-year sentence for seven charges, five counts of rape and two of sexual touching, but because the sentences will run at the same time, he will serve a maximum of 10 years.
The incidents occurred between 2018 and 2021 and involved three girls aged six, seven, and eleven at the time. The investigation into the matter did not begin until 2022, when one of the victims told a relative about the incidents, leading to his arrest.
According to court records, the man used his role within the household to gain access to the children. One of the victims, the eldest, shared that she was approached and sexually assaulted in the living room and was told not to speak about it. She later confided in her mother, though fear and shame initially kept her silent.
In another incident, a six-year-old was reportedly raped twice on a bed belonging to her grandmother, who was at work at the time. The man reportedly fondled her on another occasion. Her unusual behaviour during a bath raised concerns, which eventually led to the truth coming out.
A third child, aged seven, told investigators she was sexually assaulted one morning while preparing for school. The man reportedly told her to lie on the bed before she could put her underwear on. She spoke to her grandmother, who reportedly confronted her spouse and warned him, but did not report the matter to the authorities at the time.
During the sentencing phase, a social enquiry report presented by a probation officer described the man as a high risk to children. It was noted that he displayed limited awareness of the impact of his actions. Though he initially denied the claims, he later accepted responsibility in court in October. He indicated that he was raised with strong moral values, as he said he had no history of trauma or substance abuse.
The community expressed mixed reactions; some were shocked and expressed that he seemed like a decent man, indicating that he may have been under the influence at the time of the incidents. Meanwhile, others supported the decision to imprison him.
The children’s father strongly urged the court to impose a long sentence. However, both the grandmother and one of the victims asked the court to be lenient. The court concluded that due to the man’s age, position of trust, and the nature of the offences, a prison sentence was necessary for accountability and future rehabilitation.