“Tony” jailed 16 years for raping, assaulting woman in her home
March 25 2026
A 29-year-old Berbice man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping and assaulting a married woman during a violent home invasion in 2024.
Anthony Jeffrey, also known as “Tony,” was handed a sentence of 12 years and eight months for rape.
He received an additional three years and four months for assault causing actual bodily harm when he appeared before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty at the Berbice High Court.
The sentences are to run concurrently, with the court granting credit for time already spent in custody.
The court heard that on March 4, 2024, the complainant was asleep at her home around 00:30 hrs when she was awakened by a noise at her window.
Moments later, an intruder entered her bedroom with his face partially concealed and attacked her.
Despite her attempts to escape, the woman was restrained, beaten, threatened with death, and sexually assaulted.
During the ordeal, the disguise slipped, and she recognised Jeffrey, who had previously worked at her home.
A neighbour who responded to the disturbance intervened and confronted the attacker, who fled the scene after a brief struggle.
The victim later sought medical treatment at two hospitals, where doctors documented multiple injuries consistent with a violent assault.
Jeffrey was arrested later that same day and initially denied the allegations.
However, he later admitted to entering the woman’s bedroom while intoxicated and made further admissions during a recorded interview.
In sentencing, Justice Kumar-Chetty applied a structured approach, first assessing the gravity of the offence and setting a benchmark of 20 years.
She then made adjustments for mitigating factors, including the accused’s lack of prior convictions and his guilty plea.
The court also considered the serious physical and psychological harm suffered by the victim, as well as the breach of her safety and the use of violence during the attack.
Following psychiatric evaluations and reports requested by the court, Jeffrey’s guilty plea was accepted, and he was sentenced accordingly.
