Kumasi, Feb. 14, GNA - A circuit court in Kumasi has sentenced Ishmael Twum, a 27-year-old security man, to five years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 14-year-old house help. Twum, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, later changed his plea to guilty on the advice of his counsel to enable the Court mitigate his sentence.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei told the Court presided over by Madam Wilhemina Hammond that the victim lived with her mistress at Atasemanso in Kumasi while the convict was the security man for an adjourning house.

The Prosecutor said Twum in September 2006 took advantage of the Girl's Mistress's absence from the house and forcibly defiled the girl in the living room.

Chief Inspector Baffour-Kyei said Twum warned the girl not to disclose the matter to her Mistress else she would die. The Prosecution said the accused repeated the act in October and November last year and the victim told her Mistress, who reported to incident to the Police.

Chief Insp. Twum said a medical report indicated that the victim had been defiled.