The Nkawie Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Frank Owusu Afriyie, has sentenced an illegal miner, Kofi Boateng, to 10 years imprisonment for defiling an imbecile.

He had pleaded guilty to the crime.

Police Detective Sergeant Jonas Adjei told the court that the victim, aged 12 years, lives with the mother at Atwima-Takoradi, near Nyinahin.

On August 6, the mother left the daughter in the house at about 1830 hours to buy from a nearby shop.

She returned about 30 minutes later, only to find the door to her room locked and became suspicious.

She forced the door open and to her surprise saw the convict hiding under her bed as the victim sat naked.

The prosecution said she raised the alarm and with the assistance of some neighbours who were attracted to the scene, arrested Boateng and handed him over to the police.

A medical report signed by doctors who attended to the girl confirmed that she had indeed, been defiled.