Man, 32, jailed for nine years for raping underage girl

A 32-year-old man, was on Tuesday, handed a nine-year jail sentence for raping a girl under the age of 16. Instead of going through a trial, Andrew Blackman, a construction worker indicted for the sexual offence, opted to plead guilty.

He committed the offence between September 10 and 11, 2021 against a 14-year-old girl, whose father he had known for several years. “He [Blackman] was a person well-known to the victim and her family,” said High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon in his sentencing remarks.

According to the Judge, Blackman preyed on the girl “when she was most vulnerable”. Among the aggravating factors highlighted by Justice Kissoon, was the prevalence of sexual offences against children who he described as “our most precious assets”.

He said that daily, children, both boys and girls, are being abused by older men. Considering the alarming situation in Guyana, he pointed out that the court will not turn a blind eye but rather would impose sentences that would deter potential offenders.

The mitigating factors considered by the Judge were Blackman’s expression of “real remorse”, his unblemished criminal record and his early guilty plea.

Justice Kissoon observed that based on the convict’s probation report; he is capable of being rehabilitated for reintegration into society.

The victim, during an interview with a probation officer, related that she feels bad that Blackman took advantage of her while she was still a child.

The probation officer, on the other hand, recommended psychological intervention for Blackman as this, according to her, would help him to become a better person when he is released from jail.

In calculating a sentence for the convict, the Judge commenced at a base of 15 years from which one-third, which is equivalent to five years, was deducted for his early guilty plea.

From the 10 years remaining, one year was deducted for mitigating factors, bringing Blackman’s final sentence to nine years’ imprisonment. He was credited for time spent on remand.

In arriving at the sentence, Justice Kissoon took guidance from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)– Guyana’s apex court—in rulings in two sexual offences cases from Guyana, namely, Calvin Ramcharran v the DPP and Linton Pompey v the DPP.

The rapist was represented by lawyer Teriq Mohammed. State Counsel Paneeta Persaud, State Counsel Caressa Henry and State Counsel Cicelia Corbin were the prosecutors.