A man has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing his 13-year-old cousin during a trip that was supposed to take her to school.

The ruling was delivered yesterday following a unanimous verdict in February. He was convicted of serious indecency and indecent assault, receiving five years for the primary offence and one year for the lesser charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

The incident occurred on October 26, 2022. Prosecutors said the accused then took the girl to a remote dirt road near a stadium, where the assault took place. Evidence presented indicated that the teenager was forced and coerced into sexual acts and subjected to inappropriate touching.

The man made an unsworn statement, acknowledging that he had picked up the girl but claiming he dropped her at school before continuing his day with relatives. Jurors rejected his account, returning guilty verdicts after approximately 90 minutes of deliberations.