Moses Ayipa, 21, a car washer at Western Transport Service in Tarkwa, was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years imprisonment in hard labour for attempting to defile a three- year-old girl by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded not guilty.

Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the Court presided by Mr Justice Obeng Asante that Kwame Baffour, the complainant and father of the victim lived at Akyempim while the convict is a resident of Aboso.

He said at about 7.30 a.m. on March 24, Ayipa was going to work when he saw the victim, who is a pupil of Knowledge Paradise Academy School at Akyempim, standing behind the school building alone.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the convict carried the victim on his shoulder into an uncompleted building in the neighbourhood but a witness suspected foul play when he saw that Ayipa had removed the victim’s panty and had also pulled down his trousers and was kneeling in front of her.

He said the witness raised the alarm and this attracted neighbours to the scene leading to the arrest of the convict.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the complainant was called to the scene and a report was made to the police who arrested him.

He said a police medical report form was issued to the complainant to take the victim to hospital for examination.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said Dr Adom, who examined the victim, said she her vulva was healthy, and her hymen intact without laceration.