A 21-YEAR-OLD man convicted of defiling a 14-year-old girl in Labasa has had his 10-month jail term suspended for two years.
Justice Lee James Burney sentenced the man earlier this month for a count of defilement and sexual assault.
He was also placed under a Community-Based Corrections Order for one year.
The court was told the man was 19 when he began a relationship with the victim, who was then 14.
On April 24, 2025, the victim and her sisters went to the man’s cousin’s house for a sleepover, where the offending occurred.
The matter came to light after the victim’s younger sister reported what she had seen.
The man initially told police the sexual activity was consensual and said he did not know the girl’s age.
However, the pre-sentence report stated he had since accepted responsibility, expressed remorse, and acknowledged that he knew she was under 16.
Justice Burney found his youth and lack of maturity contributed to his poor decision-making, while noting the seriousness of the offending.
The judge said the man’s good prospects of rehabilitation weighed strongly in favour of suspending the sentence.
