Kwame Amponsah, a 35-year- old farmer, was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by the Mpraeso Circuit Court for defiling a nine-year- old primary three pupil at Amuana Praso in the Birim North District.

The Prosecutor, Detective Police Inspector Christian Apronti, told the court presided over by Mr Kwaku Osei that both the victim and Amponsah live at Amuana Praso.

He said on January 03, Amponsah invited the victim to his room to watch a video film with his children.

Amponsah later sent his children to buy some items for him in town and took advantage of their absence and defiled her.

The prosecutor said on the night of that day, the victim started bleeding and had to be taken hospital at Nkawkaw for treatment and when questioned by the doctor, she narrated her ordeal and mentioned Amponsah as the one who defiled her.

The case was later reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Nkawkaw and a medical form was issued to the victim for medical treatment.

She was later referred to the Regional Hospital in Koforidua for further treatment. Detective Inspector Apronti said when Amponsah was later arrested he initially denied the offence during interrogation but later admitted and pleaded for leniency.

In his ruling, the presiding judge expressed concern about the ascendency of defilement cases in the area and said offenders should be given stiff sentences to deter others.