Man to serve 17 years in jail for raping 12-Y-0 girl

Gavin Assanah was on Thursday sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old girl twice.

Assanah was sentenced by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Sexual Offenders Court.

Last month, a 12-member jury found Assanah guilty of raping the victim during the month of August 2014, and again on January 26, 2015.

Assanah was represented by Euclin Gomes while the state was represented by prosecutors Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry, and Paneeta Persaud.

On Thursday, while delivering her sentencing remarks, Justice Morris-Ramlall said that she considered the psychological trauma the incident has caused the victim.

The Judge also considered that Assanah breached the victim’s trust and has not expressed remorse since he still maintains his innocence.

Justice Barlow sentenced Assanah to serve 16 years on the first count and 17 years on the second count.

However, the sentences will run concurrently and Assanha will only serve 17 years in prison.

Justice Barlow also ordered that he undergoes counselling for young sex offenders while in prison.

The rape survivor in her impact statement said she suffers from nightmares due to Assanah’s attack which eventually led her to attempt suicide at 14.

“I used to have nightmares about it….I tried to force myself to forget about it,” the victim said in her statement.