Two youths jailed for having sex with 12-year-old

“A moment of pleasure could carry a sentence of life imprisonment,” declared Justice Pamela Elder before sentencing two youths to imprisonment for committing sexual offences with a 12-year-old girl.

Ryan Strong, 25, and Shaka Thomas, 25, of Arima, were each sentenced to a year imprisonment with hard labour for serious indecency with a girl under the age of 14. Strong was also sentenced to three years hard labour for having sex with the girl. His sentences are to run concurrently which means he will serve a total of three years imprisonment. The incidents occurred at Thomas’ house on March 23, 1996. Both men were 18 years old at the time.

Elder, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court, said though the evidence suggested that the girl consented to have sex, men must be aware that having sex with a girl under the age of 14 is “an extremely serious offence whether or not the girl initiated, co-operated, or consented to have sexual intercourse.” She added that men who have sex with minors do so at their own peril. Elder continued, “Even though pleasure is enjoyed by two, pain is suffered by one, namely the man.”

Evidence indicated that the victim and a friend met the men who were maxi-taxi conductors at the time, at an ice-cream parlour. All four then left the parlour and went to Thomas’ home. On April 3, 1996, the girl accompanied by her mother went the police and made a report. Before sentencing the men, Elder said that though the subsequent behaviour of the girl was strange, the Sexual Offences Act clearly stated that sexual intercourse with minors is an offence.