A 52 year old man who pleaded guilty to trying to rape a 2 year old girl has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Lautoka High Court yesterday.

High court Judge Justice Paul Madigan, while handing down the sentence highlighted that in the early hours of the morning of 27 January 2010 in Nadarivatu, the elderly man attempted to rape the victim, a 2 year old girl, sleeping in the same house where he was being accommodated as a guest.

Another occupant of the house woke up and found the little girl in the man’s room and was crying.

Judge Madigan noted that the man is married with one daughter and is normally a resident in Taveuni.

In mitigation his Counsel submitted that the man was overcome by "an inordinate and intense longing to lay with a woman" which led him to commit the offence as he was doing early morning devotion when the victim entered his room.

Judge Madigan took into consideration the Doctors report on the victim which stated that the lifelong impact that these events would have on this child and particularly when she herself reaches sexual maturity is unthinkable.  

He said to abuse the trust of his hosts by defiling an innocent baby in the house is outrageous, and he cannot imagine a more serious case of attempted rape than this.  

Judge Justice Madigan sentenced the 52yr old to seven years imprisonment, and stated he would be eligible to be considered for parole after serving his sentence for 6 years.