Leonard Albert, a 46-year-old Port Kaituma cook, was yesterday sentenced to 23 years in prison for the rape of a six-year-old boy.
Albert, who was charged with violating the child on June 12th, 2012, in the county of Essequibo, had been convicted in July by a 12-member jury.
During the sentencing hearing yesterday at Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown, probation officer Collis Jacobs presented a report on Albert to the court.
According to Jacobs, the convict was described by persons in his community as a peaceful and humble person. Jacobs told the court that the man resided with his wife and children in a home which was financed by his employer through a $12 million loan, which Albert, the sole breadwinner for his family, has to repay.
The officer went on to say that Albert felt he was wrongfully accused and denied any sexual activities with the child, while stating that God was on his side. According to the officer, Albert was concerned about his family and the repayment of the loan.
The victim, who is now 13-years-old, the court heard, feels ashamed about what happened and hoped that the accused would be placed in jail. The mother of the child, according to the report, indicated that he hardly socialises, is withdrawn and has been distrustful of persons since the incident.
Jacobs also said that it was impressed upon the victim’s mother that counselling should be sought urgently to assist the child in overcoming the trauma.
During a plea of mitigation, Albert’s attorney, Maxwell McKay, told the court that his client is a father of five, a devoted Christian and the sole breadwinner for his family.
State prosecutor Tuanna Hardy told the court that from the probation report shared, Albert shows no remorse but is only interested in the loan that he has to repay. The prosecutor added that the theme throughout the case was one of the betrayal of trust and she emphasised that when the accused raped the victim he caused not only physical pain but emotional pain. Hardy added that to this day the victim is still psychologically affected.
She also noted that the police are investigating another report of a similar nature against Albert.
The prosecutor added that children are vulnerable and should be protected and that Albert’s sentence should send a message that no one should take advantage of the vulnerable.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall took into consideration the nature and gravity of the offence and the betrayal of the child’s trust and that of his mother’s. The judge added that she considered the impact that the offence had on the victim, and the revelation in the probation report that the report of the commissioning of a similar offence is being investigated against the accused which was made while the probation officer was conducting an investigation. Justice Morris-Ramlall further considered that Albert showed no remorse and maintained his innocence.
The judge told the court that the appropriate sentence would be the term of 25 years and in considering the plea in mitigation reduced the sentence 23 years, of which he will have to serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole. Justice Morris-Ramlall also ordered that Albert be exposed to reform programmes during his period of imprisonment.
