A 30-year-old man was found guilty on two counts of sexually exploiting a girl under the age of 14 when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that Armando Nicolin committed the offences at a party in January 2011, when the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 12 years old.

The court heard that Nicolin was sitting on a sofa next to the victim when he covered her torso with a jacket and began to touch her inappropriately.

After examining evidence presented at the judgment hearing, Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said that he found the victim to be an incredible young lady, who gave an honest account of what happened to her.

He added that she had been consistent with her allegations and stood up to intense cross-examination.

“I do not believe that she was acting, or as counsel for the defendant said, or accused her of, was acting like a victim for the court,” Mr Tokunbo said.

He found the defendant guilty as charged on both offences.

Mr Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report and adjourned sentencing until March 17.

He allowed bail to remain at $10,000, under the new conditions that the defendant not leave the jurisdiction, surrender his travel documents and have no contact with the victim or her mother.

The defendant was also ordered to report to police once a week.