leniant an 18-month sentence handed to the attacker.

Speaking to television news last night the mother said the law had to be changed to better protect children and claimed that the defendant was laughing in the face of the Island's justice system.

And the mother said she felt betrayed that the attacker -- a neighbour -- had broken her family's trust.

The 18-month sentence was handed out to 29-year-old Shawn Eugene Gordon Smith in the Supreme Court earlier this week.

Smith, of Sandys Parish, admitted back in April to unlawful carnal knowledge of a teenaged girl.

The incident took place last September as the girl was clearing a clothesline.

Smith walked up and offered to help, but finding the clothes were still damp the girl turned to leave when Smith pulled her close to him.

As the teenage victim tried to walk away, Smith pushed her against a wall, penetrated her and ejaculated on her skirt two minutes later.

Smith, a father of three, was scolded by Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller, who informed him that children were not to be preyed upon in this manner.

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