A 23- year-old pupil’s teacher has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Cape Coast Circuit Court for defiling two of his pupils at Ohiaba near New Ebu in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District.

Isaac Acheampong, who resides at New Ebu, defiled the victims who are eight and 10 years on separate occasions when they had gone to his house for extra classes.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement blaming his actions on a curse he believed had been placed on him by someone he did not disclose.

He told the court that whenever he felt the urge to sleep with the girls, he would sack them from his house but their parents would ask them to return so that he could help them with their academic work.

Acheampong was however sentenced to 10 years on each count. The sentences are to run consecutively.

Passing judgement, Ms Audrey Kocuvie-Tay who presided over the court queried why Acheampong would continue teaching when he knew that young girls were his weakness, due to the purported curse.

She said teachers have the duty of protecting the children entrusted to their care and under no circumstances should they take advantage of them.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvanus Dalmeida who prosecuted said Acheampong was a teacher at Joy Complex School at Ohiaba near New Ebu.

The victims were also part of a group of pupils Acheampong organised extra classes for at his house.

He disclosed that in December 2014 at about 1530 hours, the first victim who is eight years went to Acheampong’s house for classes in the company of three others, however Acheampong sent the other three girls to purchase water for him leaving the victim behind.

ASP Dalmeida revealed that after the other pupils had left, Acheampong invited the victim into his room, instructed her to remove her pant and had sexual intercourse with her after which he warned her not to disclose the encounter to anyone else she would die or be whipped at school.

On Friday March 27, at about 1530 hours, the second victim was at Acheampong’s house waiting for her colleagues for classes when Acheampong called her into his room, instructed her to remove her pant and had sexual intercourse with her.

ASP Dalmeida said Acheampong warned the victim not to disclosed what had happen to anyone.

He said the parents of the victims were eventually informed about Acheampong’s action and lodged a complaint at the police station where they were issued with medical forms to be examined in hospital.

He said Acheampong was apprehended and admitted the offence.