Latest update November 20th, 2025 12:35 AM
Latest News
- Govt. snubs IACHR hearing on Guyana’s FOI crisis
- PPC slams tender boards for hiding procurement minutes
- Israeli airstrikes kill 25 Palestinians in Gaza, rattling ceasefire
- ‘Your voice, your vote’ – Canadian envoy urges Guyanese to demand free and fair elections
- Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica with record US$8.8B in damage
Child rapist gets 10 years
(Kaieteur News) – Justice Sandil Kissoon last Thursday handed down a 10-year sentence to a New Amsterdam man for raping a child under the age of 16.
Anthony Patterson was arrested on April 21, 2024 after he reportedly lured a 12-year-old girl into his home and forced himself on her. Bail was refused and he was remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison where he awaited trial at the High Court. He had pleaded guilty to the charge.
Anthony Patterson
Upon hearing his sentence, a sombre Patterson maintained his innocence, denying that he committed the crime despite having pleaded guilty at the commencement of the case. He also pleaded with the court for mercy.
“I just wanna say sorry. I didn’t had sex with the girl that I deh in jail for sir. I’m begging for a small mercy. I won’t find myself around lil girls anymore,” the convicted man stated to the court.
Justice Kissoon then comprehensively outlined to Patterson the basis for determining the sentence, highlighting immediately the spiraling incidents of sexual crimes in the country.
Justice Kissoon also underscored that the matter at hand was not a trivial one, but a grave one in which a vulnerable member of society, no less than an unfortunate and traumatised 12-year-old girl, was violated in one of the worst ways.
He also weighed in on the prevalence of rape cases, more so the commission of such crimes against innocent children.
Patterson, the Justice emphasized, abused and violated the trust reposed in him by the child who held him as a neighbour, and an adult with whom she was familiar.
Due to the harrowing experience, Justice Kissoon outlined that there are bound to be detrimental social and mental effects that will linger with the child, which could prove severe. He said she will need much counselling for the challenges brought on by the act committed against her.
An excerpt from Patterson’s psychiatric assessment presented by Justice Kissoon showed that he is used to manipulating persons, which he strategically employed to reel in the unsuspecting young victim.
To uphold his sentencing, Justice Kissoon also informed the court that Patterson had several prior infractions of different natures, and that he was not a stranger to law enforcement and prison officials, having served time for larceny before.
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
