Charge changed in alleged sexual exploitation case

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Revised charges were yesterday put before a Hamilton Parish man accused of sexually exploiting a child.

The 33-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has denied two counts of sexually exploiting a girl under the age of 14.

The defendant was initially charged with touching the girl’s genitals with his hand, and touching his genitals to the girl’s hand.

However the Crown yesterday revised the second charge to allege that he touched the victim’s hand with his own hand for a sexual purpose, an offence to which the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The Crown explained that the defendant had attempted to bring her hand to his genitals, but she pulled away before contact was made.

Both counts relate to an incident on December 28 in Sandys.

Prosecutors said the victim’s mother became suspicious about the defendant’s behaviour and confronted him.

He is said to have confessed and asked the mother not to tell anyone. The woman told her friend about the incident, who urged her to contact the police. The defendant was subsequently arrested.

The defendant had previously asked to be tried in Supreme Court, but yesterday requested the matter be heard in Magistrates’ Court.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner remanded the man into custody until April, when his trial will take place.

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