‘My erection gone since meh turn 55 years’—pensioner jailed for raping boy tells Judge

Laldeo Jadgeo age 61 years, of Lot 214 Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast, who was found guilty last month of repeatedly raping a boy, has been sentenced to serve 15 years in prison.

Following a trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the High Court in Essequibo, Jagdeo was convicted by a 12-member jury for the offence of rape of a child under 16.

He was indicted on three counts by the Senior State prosecutor Tiffini Lyken. He committed the crimes between September and October 2019.

During Jagdeo’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Justice Barlow told the convicted rapist that he had caused the child psychological trauma and had stripped him of his dignity.

But Jagdeo continued denying his involvement in the crime by stating: “Ma’am [Justice Barlow] my erection gone since meh turn 55 years.”

On the first and second counts, Jagdeo was sentenced to 13 years in prison respectively. In Justice Barlow’s view, the elderly man became bold when he raped the child for the third time.

As such, on the third count, she jailed him for 15 years. The sentences will run concurrently.

To aid in the pensioner’s rehabilitation for reintegration into society, the High Court Judge ordered that he undergo counselling for sex offenders while incarcerated.