Paedophile jailed for three years

A LORRY driver from the village of Kato Pyrgos in Tylliria was yesterday jailed for three years after being found guilty of taking sexual advantage of a girl of 13.

The 54-year-old man, who yesterday appeared in court accompanied by an older relative believed to be his mother, was arrested on February 13 last year having been previously beaten up by relatives of the young girl.

His trial was conducted behind closed doors.

Yesterday, a court announcement from Judge Angelos David stated that the court had found the defendant guilty of the charges last Thursday.

He was yesterday sentenced to four months for the charge of kidnapping, 12 months for the charge of indecent assault and three years for the charges of taking sexual advantage of a person under the age of 16.

The man was arrested last year after relatives of the girl had followed him as he was driving with his victim. They then forced him out of his car and beat him up. The suspect appeared in court the following day with heavy bruising all over his face.

According to police, the suspect had admitted to officers at the local police station that for the last six months he had been having an intimate relationship with the 13-year-old girl, but at no time had sexual intercourse with her.

The girl had told investigators in her statement that she had phoned the suspect towards the end of 2004 and told him that she wanted to have a relationship with him.

According to her, he initially refused and hung up the phone on her, but she then persisted and he eventually caved in to her demands.

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