A 24-year-old man was on Tuesday sentenced to eight years in prison for having sex with a 10-year-old girl when he was 19 years old.
Justice Rickie Burnett handed down the sentence on Stefan Glasgow, of Campden Park, at High Court No 2, in Kingstown.
A jury found Glasgow guilty, on Dec. 4, 2023, of the charge that on a date unknown between Dec. 31, 2018, and Dec. 18, 2019, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with the virtual complainant, she being a girl under the age of 13.
The sentencing took place after the preparation of pre-sentencing reports.
The judge said that in the victim impact statement, the complainant spoke about the physical pain she felt during the experience.
She, however, said that the physical pain could not be compared to the mental suffering after the physical encounter was over.
“She was crying without water. That came out in the evidence,” Justice Burnett said.
The report quoted the victim as saying she has nightmares all the time and has lost weight because of a change in her eating habits.
The victim’s mother said in the statement that she lost her child and is trying to find her.
The girl has put up a mental block and the mother cannot get through it, the statement said.
The mother said she misses her daughter’s bubbly personality and remembers her happy times.
The victim has no interest in socialising with friends.
Justice Burnett said there could be little doubt that children and young people who have been sexually assaulted can suffer a range of psychological and behavioural problems.
He said they can range from mild to severe and can present challenges in the short and long term.
“The effects of unlawful sexual intercourse on a child, in the case at bar, a 10-year-old child, tend to vary depending on the circumstances of the sexual encounter and the child’s developmental stage.”
Justice Burnett said the violation of a child at such a tender age can have long-term effects on the child and her understanding of the world, the people who live in the world and her belonging as a member of society.
Meanwhile, the social inquiry report said Glasgow has 17 siblings and spent most of his formative years living with his paternal aunt from when he was 3 months old.
He attended the Lowmans Leeward Anglican Primary School before migrating to Canada where he was home-schooled.
On his return to St. Vincent, he attended the Buccament Bay Secondary School and then migrated to Antigua, where he got to Form 4.
He returned to St. Vincent but worked as a gardener instead of completing secondary school.
The report said Glasgow uses marijuana for his asthma.
He also suffers from depression characterised by inability to concentrate, memory problems, racing thoughts, and suicidal thoughts
Glasgow’s father was absent from his son’s life in his formative years as the father travelled extensively.
Glasgow told the social worker that he is in prison innocently as he did not commit the act.
In his community, he was described as a quiet person whose behaviour changes when he is intoxicated.
One villager said the incident appears to be “out of character” while another described Glasgow as “very disrespectful and rude”.
The social worker said Glasgow appeared to be heavily dependent on marijuana, which he uses at least 10 times a day.
Glasgow faced a minimum of life imprisonment, a notional sentence of 30 years in prison.
However, the magistrate used a starting point of 12 years, having considered the consequences and seriousness of the offence.
In assessing the aggravating and mitigating features of the offence, the judge said that the evidence suggests that ejaculation occurred, an aggravating feature.
Mitigating was the absence of violence except that inherent in the act.
The judge did not adjust the sentence.
There were no aggravating features of the offence and mitigating, the court held that Glasgow has good prospects for rehabilitation, is young and was previously of good character.
The court, therefore, reduced the sentence by three years.
The court deducted from the sentence the four months and 27 days Glasgow spent on remand, leaving a sentence of eight years, seven months and three days in prison.
The judge further ordered that Glasgow receive counselling for two years at His Majesty’s Prison and a report be submitted to the court every six months during that time.
Jomo Thomas appeared for Glasgow while Richie Maitland and Allana Cumberbatch represented the Crown.