Man who had sex with a minor walks free (Update)

A 22-year-old man who had sex with a 14-year-old girl was today given a suspended jail sentence.

Ajani Albuoy-Lovell was 21-years-old when he committed the act with the now 15-year-old girl.

The pair had consensual sex three times in the girl’s home when her parents weren’t at the house.

Albuoy-Lovell pleaded guilty in November to having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl between April 1 and April 30, on August 7 and between August 8 and August 31, in her Devonshire home.

At the first hearing, the court heard he met the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at a place where they were both volunteers.

Crown counsel Susan Mulligan said Albuoy-Lovell befriended the girl and they communicated on BlackBerry messenger.

While they were communicating, the defendant told the victim he thought she was 16. But she told him she was 14.

They eventually went to her home where they had sex.

Today, Ms Mulligan told the court the defendant’s actions were the result of “poor decision making and poor judgement”.

“He should come to understand the significance of having sexual relations with someone as young as the girl was.

Ms Mulligan also said the sexual encounter wasn’t forced.

“It was in fact consensual. There was no coercion and she was a willing participant.”

The victim had arranged for Albuoy-Lovell to come to her home.

Ms Mulligan and Dante Williams, lawyer for Albuoy-Lovell both suggested a suspended sentence was the best punishment.

Addressing the court, Albuoy-Lovell said: “I just want to apologise to the courts, to the family of the girl and to my family for putting them in this position.

“I have had time to reflect on what I have done. If given a second chance, I will show you that it will never happen again.”

Sentencing the defendant, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “In all the circumstances, including the submissions, I agree that there is the need for a custodial sentence as far as the deterrence aspect goes.

“However, there are special circumstances in this case. For the record, these special circumstances include the willing and eager participation of the victim.”

Mr Warner sentenced Albuoy-Lovell to six months imprisonment from November 28, suspended for 24 months.

He was also required to participate in necessary rehabilitation programmes at the discretion of the Department of Court Services.

Albuoy-Lovell had been in custody since November 28.