Bekwai-Ashanti, May 31, GNA - A 22-year-old farmer at Edwinase near Asante-Bekwai has been sentenced to 20 years=92 imprisonment in hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit court for defiling his six-year-old step-daughter.

Kwaku Duah was convicted on his own plea.

Police Chief Inspector C.A. Hayford told the packed court presided over by Mr Justice Adjei Frimpong that on May 9, this year, at about 1.30 pm, Duah lured the victim into his room and defiled her. He said luck eluded Duah who apparently in a hurry, he forgot to lock the door to his room from where screams of the poor girl attracted neighbours.

The prosecution said Duah caught in the act, was arrested and handed over to the Bekwai police w here a hospital examination on the girl confirmed the defilement.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Frimpong expressed disgust about sexual abuse that had become rampant and warned that the judiciary would not spare perpetrators.