Sentenced for abusing a minor

A MAN, 38 has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for having sex with an underage girl on several occasions.

In 2005, he worked with the girl’s parents and during work hours, when she helped out, he began to show an interest in her and touched her inappropriately. She was 12 at the time.

He would offer to take her home by car, then drive to secluded area and engage in sexual acts with her. This continued between 2006 and 2010, and he was arrested in 2011 when the abuse was discovered.

He was facing nine years in prison but admitted to having a relationship with her, although he claimed he was unaware of her age. The victim remains in counselling.