Sex offender given 15-year sentence

Saying that she believed King knew the girl with whom he had sex was a minor, Justice Pamela Beckles imposed the sentence when King reappeared in the No. 5 Supreme Court yesterday.

“Even though you were ten years older than the complainant and she was a minor, you continue to maintain that she initiated the interaction between the two of you on the day in question,” the judge told the sexual offender.

“You seem to blame her and hold her responsible for your actions, as if you could not control yourself,” the judge said.

“Any mistaken belief as to her age does not excuse you [and] I do not accept that you were not aware of the complainant’s age,”Justice Beckles noted.

However, after the relevant deductions King will spend six years, 243 days in prison.

King, of Green Hill Drive, Silver Hill, Christ Church, had pleaded guilty to having sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 14, to wit 12, who was not his spouse, on September 16, 2016. He represented himself, while Principal State Counsel Romario Straker prosecuted the matter.

Yesterday King had no last words for the court.

“The community has a justifiable concern about the prevalence of sexual offending against its most vulnerable members and expects the courts who sentence an offender who has committed such an offence, to be dealt with in a way that clearly signifies that such criminal behaviour is abhorred and totally unacceptable,” Justice Beckles then told King.

She said she had considered the nature and gravity of the offence; the prevalence of such matters in society; the tender age and vulnerability of the complainant and the disparity in ages between the girl and King.

The judge further said she had considered the facts, the contents of King’s pre-sentencing report and the circumstances of the offence.

“You chose to have your way with her. There is a clear need to denounce your conduct and impose punishment that will act as a deterrent, not only to you but also others,” the judge said as she determined that 15 years was the appropriate starting point.

The judge then noted she had also considered King’s guilty plea, which had saved judicial time and prevented the complainant from testifying; his previously clean record; his expression of remorse and the delay in the matter.

She deducted two years for the mitigating features as well as one-third for the guilty pleas.

The judge also deducted the 112 days King had spent on remand and ordered him to serve the remaining six years, 243 days.

She also ordered him to enroll in any skills training or educational programmes while incarcerated.

The court had heard King told the child he wanted her telephone number because he “wanted a piece of her”.

He said the girl was not feeling well and had remained at home on September 15 and 16.

On September 16, as she was walking along a track, she encountered King, who pulled her towards the back of some houses.

She tried to pull away but he pushed her against a wall. He then forced her to perform oral sex on him and he later raped her.

The girl said she tried to scream but could not. She said King only stopped when they heard a vehicle pull into the driveway. He went home.

It was as she was walking away that she met her mother, who demanded to know from where she was coming.

When the girl eventually told her what had happened, the mother sought out King and told him about the accusation. King denied raping the girl and the mother went to the police.

When questioned by police, King told them: “I had sex with her but nothing like the way she said I did.”

He admitted he did not use a condom and later dictated a statement to officers. (HLE)