A Circuit Court at Ho on Monday sentenced Timothy Dei, 28, an apprentice mason from Peki-Dzake in the Volta Region, to 15 years imprisonment for defiling a five-year-old girl.

He pleaded guilty.

Chief Inspector Christopher Agbodza, prosecuting, told the Court presided over by Mr Nicholas Abodakpi that on April 21 this year, Dei attended an Easter get-together organised by the victim's father in the town.

He said at about 1900 hours, Dei was seen conversing with the victim but later disappeared with her.

The prosecutor said Dei could not provide any tangible reason for their disappearance when the victim's mother questioned him on returning to the get-together.

He said the victim told the mother that the accused person took her to a nearby bush and sexually assaulted her.

Chief Inspector Agbodza told the court that the victim's mother saw blood ooze out of her (victim) private part and a report was made to the police and Dei was arrested.

A medical report from the Peki government hospital indicated that the girl was defiled.

Dei said he was drunk at the time of the incident, adding, " I used my fingers in knowing her, I inserted several times."