Rapist sentenced to 11 years

UPDATE:

SHE was only 14-years-old when she was raped by a man who knew her as a child.
After the incident that destroyed her life, she felt ashamed and blamed herself for what it has also done to her mother. She attempted suicide twice and said she now wears a fake smile as she is unable to forget.
“I felt filthy and ashamed.”

Now 26, the woman said he should suffer for what he did to her and has asked the judge who had to sentence him to send a message to men who prey on young girls.
Justice Gillian Lucky did just that yesterday when she sentenced Peter Andrew Davis to 11 years’ and seven months hard labour for rape.

Lucky said she too was concerned that young boys and girls were seen as preys, and sent a message to rapists that they will feel the full brunt of the law for their acts.
Davis, 36, was convicted of rape by a jury on May 8. Even after his conviction he still maintained his innocence.

In early May 2006, he offered the girl a ride to meet her cousin. Instead, he took her to a house in Central Trinidad, where he raped her.
She begged him to stop, but he told her it would stop hurting. He did not stop and after raping her he sent her home, told her to take a bath and not tell anyone.
Rumours of the incident and ridicule by others led her to speak to her mother a month later and the rape was reported to the police.

In a victim impact statement, the victim said it affected her school work and she is always depressed around Mother’s Day since the rape took place two weeks before that day.
She also harbours guilt for what it has done to her mother.
“It made me feel it is my fault.”

In sentencing Davis, the judge reminded that the maximum penalty for rape was life imprisonment. She also said the rape was premeditated, and began her sentencing starting point at 13 years’ hard labour.
She shaved off only one year because of his clean criminal record and the positive probation officer’s report, but said she was not going to give any more discounts other than the five months he spent in jail awaiting trial and after his conviction.

She was also critical of the way Davis treated his victim after he raped her. “He was more interested in protecting himself.
“This court cannot turn a blind eye to the prevalence and seriousness of this type of offence,” Lucky said.
The State was represented by prosecutor Gisele Heller-Ferguson.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Peter Andrew Davis was yesterday sentenced to 11 years’ and seven months hard labour for a 2006 rape.

Port of Spain judge Gillian Lucky said she was concerned that young boys and girls were seen as preys, and sent a message to rapists that they will feel the full brunt of the law for their acts.

Davis, 36, was convicted of rape by a jury on May 8.

“This court cannot turn a blind eye to the prevalence and seriousness of this type of offence,” Lucky said.

The State was represented by prosecutor Gisele Heller-Ferguson.