Takoradi, Feb. 8, GNA - A Takoradi Circuit Court "A" on Monday sentenced Emmanuel Tetteh to seven years' imprisonment in hard labour for defiling an eight-year-old girl.

He pleaded not guilty to defilement.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor, said the girl was a pupil at Nsuaem District Council Primary School.

He said at about 1300 hours on December 4 last year, Tetteh went to the home of the victim to roof the kitchen of the mother, with bamboo sticks.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said the girl's mother gave Tetteh 5,000 cedis to buy food before going to the forest to fetch some bamboo sticks.

But after buying the food, Tetteh lured the victim to a room in the house, undressed her and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her, the court heard.

Chief Inspector Hedidor said the mother returned to the house unexpectedly and caught the accused in the act.