A 20 year-old illegal miner, Kofi Acheampong, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for raping Elizabeth Wireko, a 60 year-old food vendor at Wassa Japa in the Amenfi East District.

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Edward Paddy told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant and the convict reside in the same neighbourhood at Wassa Japa.

He said around 0350 hours on June 28 of last year, the complainant went to dump refuse at the outskirt of the town near the Japa Roman Catholic School football park.

Chief Inspector Paddy said the offender trailed the complainant to the bush threatened her with a knife, booted her down, tore her pant and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her, after which he went into hiding.

The complainant reported the incident to the police and was issued with a police medical form, to attend hospital.