Asamankese, Feb. 19, GNA - A 25-year-old farmer, Kwame Lartey, who forcibly had sex with a 12-year girl has been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Asamankese Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty.

Police Inspector P.K. Baah, prosecuting told the court, presided over by Mr S.S. Appiah that, the girl, who lived at Brebreso village, near Asuom, with her parents was sent to a nearby village on January 13, this year, to deliver an item to a cocoa purchasing clerk.

The prosecution said, while returning home, Lartey, who offered to lift her on his bicycle rather sent her to his cottage, dragged her into his room and threatened her with a knife if she should make any noise.

He said the accused then forcibly had sexual intercourse with her after which he threatened her with death should she report the incident. A week after the act, the victim's parents found her walking strangely and when confronted, she spilled the beans.

When Mr Appiah asked Lartey, why he did that, he said the girl had complained that her parents did not give her money.

Sentencing Lartey, Mr Appiah decried the increase in cases of defilement and said it was about time that the law was rigorously enforced to "end the bestial and sadistic behaviour of some men."