Bekwai (Ash), Aug. 11, GNA - The Bekwai circuit court on Wednesday sentenced a 73-year-old man to seven years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old school girl.

Osman Sisala, a farmer, pleaded guilty to the charge. Police Chief Inspector G.K. Anim told the court that Sisala had persistently harassed the victim who was her grand step-daughter, that is his wife's granddaughter.

He said on July 16, this year, the accused who is a farmer at Adansi-Nyankumasi in the Adansi North district of Ashanti, took advantage of his wife's absence from the village and forcibly had sex with the girl.

Chief Inspector Anim said after the act, the victim reported it to her uncle who in turn reported it to the Adansi-Brofoyedru police who arrested the accused.

He said during interrogation, Sisala admitted the offence and was therefore charged with the offence.

In passing sentence, the presiding judge, Mr Adjei Frimpong said the court took into consideration the advanced age of the accused and said but for that, he would have had a very long jail sentence to deter other unscrupulous men from jeopardising the future of young girls.