40-year-old man jailed 15 years for raping 10-year-old neighbour with Bubble gum lure
CHONHOYI – A 40-year-old man from Arshyre Farm, Banket, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the horrific rape of his 10-year-old neighbour, a Grade 2 pupil, whom he lured with bubble gum before committing the heinous crime.
The accused person, whose name has been withheld to protect the minor’s identity, appeared before the Chinhoyi Magistrate’s Court on rape charges.
According to court papers, the offence occurred on October 12, 2024, when the accused person and the 10-year-old complainant were herding cattle at a dam site.
The accused allegedly requested the minor to engage in sexual intercourse, but she bravely declined.
In a shocking and disturbing attack, the accused reportedly offered the minor bubble gum before dragging her to a nearby bushy area, where the alleged rape occurred.
The complainant’s terrified screams prompted the accused to flee the scene.
The complainant later recounted her harrowing ordeal to her parents, who promptly filed a police report.
Police arrested the accused, who was subsequently charged with rape.
The accused’s subsequent conviction and sentencing brought some measure of justice for the young victim.
In passing sentence, the magistrate underscored the imperative to safeguard minors from such heinous crimes, emphasizing that the accused’s actions had caused irreparable harm to the young victim.
