15 counts of sexual offences

The child’s mother will also appear before the court for hiding and keeping the child away from school.

According to police sources the girl, 11 made a verbal report in early March, to the Valencia police and subsequent tests confirmed she was raped, buggered and molested. The two men were held but later released when the girl could not be found to give a written statement.

After several unsuccessful attempts to locate the mother and child, police eventually found them hiding in a house at Temple Street, Arima on Saturday.

The grandad was held and charged with rape, buggery, serious indecency, grievous assault, and indecent assault.

A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of the stepfather on 25 similar charges, while the mother 34, was charged for hiding the child.

The pre-teen is due to write her Secondary Entrance Assessment exams on April 6.

Investigations revealed the charges arose from a report made in March that the girl was sexually molested by the two men between January 2003 and December 2005.

The mother at first accompanied her to the police station but the officers said the girl changed her mind when she realised the stepdad may not finance a promised trip to the United States of America.

In an unrelated incident, two boys will appear before a Couva magistrate today charged with the murder of Sean Luke Lumfai, 6, while a San Juan Karate instructor will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with the buggery of a six-year-old boy from the area.