18yrs jail for man who attempted rape 4-Y-O
January 23 2026
A 46-year-old man from East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of attempting to rape a four-year-old child.
Ganesh Lewis appeared before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court, where he was sentenced following a jury verdict that found him guilty of attempted rape of a child under 16.
Lewis had faced two charges under the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03, including rape and attempted rape of a minor, relating to an incident on August 2, 2022, at a shed attached to his brother’s barbershop.
The court initially set a starting point of 20 years for the offence but reduced the sentence by five years after considering a favourable probation report.
However, the judge added three years due to the extreme youth of the victim and Lewis’ lack of remorse, resulting in a final sentence of 18 years.
Because Lewis remained out on bail throughout the proceedings, no time was deducted from his sentence.
In addition to the custodial term, the court issued orders to ensure the continued welfare of the child.
The Department of Social Services, or any other agency providing counselling, has been directed to continue or resume intervention until it is deemed no longer necessary.
The convicted sex offender was represented by attorney Ronald Bostwick, while the prosecution team included attorneys Simran Gajraj, Christopher Belfield, and Geneva Wills.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that a resident visiting the barbershop, which was closed at the time, noticed movement in a nearby shed.
Upon investigating, the resident reportedly saw Lewis with his pants down while the child’s pants were also down, with Lewis standing behind the child in a compromising position.
The resident confronted him, prompting Lewis to leave the area with the child.
The child’s family, who knew Lewis as a close family friend, immediately reported the matter to police. Lewis was arrested two days later, on August 4, 2022, and denied the allegations.
In his defence, Lewis claimed he had been asleep at home when the child called for him.
He said he later went to the barbershop after hearing noises and was simply lifting the child off a stool when the resident arrived and misunderstood the situation.
The prosecution rejected this account, pointing out that the barbershop was closed and not within earshot of Lewis’ home, making it unlikely that he could have heard any disturbance.
Lewis was initially charged on January 27, 2023, and later appeared before a magistrate for a preliminary inquiry.
On September 21, 2024, the court ruled that sufficient evidence existed to establish a prima facie case, leading to his committal to stand trial in the High Court.
