A 47-year-old Pembroke man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for two counts of sexual exploitation.

Unmoved by the defendant’s protestations of innocence, Puisne Judge Stephen Hellman said the man’s reputation and law abiding past had served as a “shield of respectability”, by making it unlikely that the complainant’s story would be believed.

“She is wretchedly unhappy as a result of your offending, and at times she feels like killing herself,” Mr Justice Hellman added.

“In everyday language, you raped her. On one occasion, you struck her on the head with a stick, as she was making noise because you were hurting her.”

The defending had shown no repentance to the court for his offences, the judge noted.

Mr Justice Hellman sentenced him to serve 15 years on each count, running concurrently. He must also serve half his sentence, rather than the customary one-third, before he is eligible to apply for parole.

The judge additionally requested further details from the prosecution to have the defendant’s name placed on a sex offenders registry.

According to Karen King, the prosecutor, the defendant was convicted by a jury on both counts in November 2015.

During the trial, the offences were said to have occurred in September 2012 and March 2013.

Ms King described the victim as being vulnerable, with the defendant holding a position of trust at the time of the offences.

Addressing his client’s apparent lack of remorse, defence lawyer Lee Holder said the man “has always maintained his innocence”, but Mr Justice Hellman dismissed the claim as a tactic of desperation. The press have been restricted from naming the defendant, to protect his victim’s identity.

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