The Appeals Court has increased the sentence for a man convicted of child rape in 2019 in Paphos, determining that the initial sentences imposed were “manifestly inadequate.”
Specifically, the Appeals Court decided to raise the sentence for the charges of rape and sexual abuse of a child involving abuse of a position of trust from six to nine years and increased the sentence for sexual abuse from five to six years.
The original sentences handed down by the Paphos Criminal Court included six years for each count of rape, sexual abuse of a child, and indecent assault, and five years for corrupting a female between 13 and 17 years of age.
The Appeals Court placed particular weight on a video recorded by the defendant during the abuse, which contributed to its decision to increase the sentences for rape and sexual abuse involving abuse of trust from six to nine years, and for sexual abuse from five to six years.
According to the facts recorded in the Appeals Court decision, the victim, who lives in the United Kingdom, would visit Paphos on holiday with her family. In 2018, while with her aunt, she met the defendant, and they began meeting socially. The defendant told the victim’s aunt that he liked the minor and wanted to be with her.
The aunt explained to the defendant that the victim was 14 years old. The defendant then took her Snapchat and Instagram contacts and began messaging her.
On two occasions in April 2018, the defendant asked the victim via Snapchat to send him nude photos, which she refused. The defendant presented himself as a good friend, and the victim confided personal matters to him.
In 2019, before the minor came to Cyprus, the defendant (then 20 years old) messaged her to arrange a meeting, and on 18 August 2019, he messaged her again to meet the following day.
On the night of 19 August 2019, the defendant picked up the victim from her apartment, and they parked somewhere near the beach.
The abuse occurred inside the car, and afterward, the victim reported the incident to the Rape Crisis Centre in London for advice.
Although she was advised to see a doctor in Cyprus, she chose not to, out of fear and reluctance to inform her mother.
The defendant claimed in court that everything happened with the minor’s consent and that she had asked him to send her the video he had recorded.
The Appeals Court stated in its decision, “Taking into account the circumstances surrounding the case, as outlined above, the victim’s age, and the defendant’s exploitation of the trust between them, we conclude that the sentences imposed for counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 do not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offences and are manifestly inadequate.”
The Court further noted, “The criminal appeal is successful, and the initial sentences for counts 1 to 4 are annulled and replaced as follows: nine years’ imprisonment for counts 1, 3, and 4 and eight years for count 2, with the sentences to run concurrently.”
Source: CNA
