After pleading guilty to fondling his step-granddaughter, a man walked free yesterday from Magistrates? Court with a sentence of three years probation.

The man, 64, from Warwick who cannot be named for legal reasons, fondled his wife?s 13-year-old granddaughter last December.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said the man, who had pleaded guilty prior to yesterday?s hearing, entered her bedroom and told her: ?you?re going to give it to me? and she replied no. The defendant sat and the edge of her bed, put his hand under the covers and proceeded to touch her chest area, legs and vaginal area over her pyjamas.

The girl had some concerns and told her school principal about the incident. The defendant went to church and found the girl with her principal and his wife. She was asked who she was having sexual relations with. When she told them it was her grandfather, his wife broke down to tears.

The defendant lost his job as a result of the incident.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said to the defendant: ?I would like to think you are very remorseful ? not remorseful for getting caught but remorseful for doing what you did?.

The defendant apologised to the victim, his wife, her family, his colleagues and the whole community of Bermuda.

He received an immediate custodial sentence of one month ? time he had already served while remanded in custody. Magistrate Tokunbo ordered him to participate in the sexual offenders? programme.