Kumasi, May 15, GNA - A 22-year old trader, Kwame Appiagyei, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in hard labour by a Kumasi Circuit Court for defiling a 14-year old junior secondary school girl. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Police Chief Inspector John K. Afful told the court that the complainant, who is the mother of the victim, lives at Pakyi Number Two together with the accused.

On February 22, the victim left home for school and the mother also left for Asarekrom, a farming village. He said the complainant later received information in March that the daughter had not been to school since she left Pakyi Number Two in February.

She returned and upon a tip-off she traced the daughter to Appiagye's house.

Police Chief Inspector Afful said the accused and the victim had locked themselves in a room and when it was forced open, the victim fled and returned after three days. Appiagyei told the police that the victim was his girlfriend.