The Kumasi-Based Gender Violence Court presided over by Mrs. Rita Agyeman-Budu has sentenced a painter to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour over the sexual assault of a minor.

Kwame Selley, 21, had gagged and defiled a 13-year -old girl at Odeneho-Kwadaso in Kumasi on April 20. He pleaded guilty.

Police Chief Inspector Philip Yao Bebli told the court that the victim had visited from Takoradi in the Western Region to spend the Easter with a family friend on April 17.

On the day of the incident, the convict went to the house where the girl was staying to buy some eggs but could not pay for them and asked that she accompanied him to collect the money.

Innocently, she obliged, and as soon as they got to his house, he grabbed and dragged her into his room, gagged and sexually abused her.

The prosecution said all this while he had raised of his music system to prevent anybody from hearing her scream.

Her host, after waiting for some time without the girl returning, became alarmed and traced her to the convict’s place, knocked at his door but there was no answer. Selley having satisfied his sexual urge, later unlocked the door and the victim rushed out crying with her skirt soaked in blood.

People in the neighbourhood arrested and handed him over to the police at Asokwa.