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18 years for man who raped girl, 15
After claiming that he was unaware that the teenager he developed a relationship with was under the age of consent, 38-year-old Dhanraj Persaud was yesterday sentenced to 18 years in jail for raping the minor.
About two weeks ago, a jury convicted Persaud, a caretaker, of engaging in sexual penetration with the 15-year-old girl. The offence occurred on October 23, 2013, in the County of Demerara.
According to a probation officer, Persaud admitted to being sexually involved with the underage girl. The probation officer said that Persaud claimed that he was misled by the minor who told him she was 17.
Dhanraj Persaud
The probation officer said that Persaud dropped out of school in Grade Six and gained employment as a labourer to assist with supporting his grandmother who became bedridden because of a stroke. She said that up until his incarceration, Persaud worked as a caretaker.
Based on investigations in Persaud’s community, it was revealed that residents described him as a respectable person. The Probation Officer revealed that several attempts made to contact the victim’s relatives proved futile.
It was revealed in the probation report, that the father of the victim threatened a probation officer via phone when he was contacted. A report was lodged with the police.
Through a statement, which was read out in court by Counsellor Celeste Mullin, the victim expressed that she feels sad about what happened to her.
The counsellor said that the victim told her she is still in a state of shock and disbelief, and would sometimes think about killing herself to get away from the nightmare.
“All of my dreams have been shattered. I always wanted to leave home as a virgin bride,” the victim told the counsellor. She further told the counsellor that she wants Persaud to be punished for what he had done to her. And that he must not get another chance to violate another young girl.
During a plea in mitigation, Attorney-at-law Maxwell McKay asked the court to consider the findings of the probation report. He pointed out that his client had admitted to being sexually involved with the young girl.
He also asked the court to consider that his client is a respectable person and cared for his grandmother until her demise.
Justice Barlow urged Persaud to use his time of incarceration to reflect on what he did. She also advised him to utilize programmes available in the prison system for sexual offenders.
The case for the State was presented by Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs.
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