Child molester gets 13 years

Government should make psychological counselling available to all victims of sexual abuse, a High Court judge said yesterday as he sent a Caroni man to jail for 13 years for molesting a six-year-old girl.

Justice Mark Mohammed also called on Government to move immediately to amend the Sexual Offences Act as it related to the registration of convicted sex offenders.

According to the judge, that part of the Act was so badly written that orders made under it cannot be properly carried out.

"I make the call for this to be done as a matter of urgency. One hopes that it will not take a tragedy... for one to realise that the need (for the relevant amendments)," he said.

In addition to sending 40-year-old Jimmy Gopaul to jail, Justice Mohammed ordered that he be placed on the registry of sexual offenders for a period of five years, which is expected to start running from the date of his release from prison.

Gopaul pleaded guilty on December 5, to a charge of grievous sexual assault against a six-year-old girl on June 22, 2004.

His guilty plea came after he heard that the girl, now nine years old, tried to kill herself as the trial date neared. His mother also convinced him to take responsibility for his actions.

Justice Mohammed had ordered an assessment of how the assault has impacted on the victim, and referring to the report yesterday, he said it was clear that the girl had been sent into a "psychological abyss" which would require long-term counselling to help her recover.

"Physical injury is one aspect (of a sexual assault). Psychological wounds may last a lifetime," the judge said, adding that it was time that counselling services should be more widely available, especially for child victims.

Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jeron Joseph, who represented the State, told the judge the girl was expected start free counselling sessions this week.

Regarding the sexual offenders registry, which the Sexual Offences Act provides for, Justice Mohammed said many sections of that part of the Act needed simple amendments to "tidy them up".

Gopaul was represented by attorney Larry Williams, and the case was heard in the Port of Spain Second Criminal Court, at the Hall of Justice.