Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence has sentenced a paedophile, David Charles, to an eight-year jail term.
In response to the Lagos State government’s amended two-count charge against him, he pleaded guilty to the offences.
A charge of defilement and indecent treatment of a child was pressed against Charles on July 28, 2021, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, on April 16, 2017, the defendant (Charles) touched the lap of a 10-year-old girl with his penis and exposed her to pornography at No. 16, Aina Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.
The prosecution said his offences were contrary to sections 135, and 170 and punishable under section 172 of the Criminal Law, Ch. C.17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution called witnesses, and the defendant himself testified before he opted for a plea bargain.
His charges were therefore amended to include indecent treatment of a child and assault.
He pleaded guilty to the two counts, and the court held his plea.
In his judgement, Justice Oshodi noted that the court had carefully considered the facts of the case, the plea bargain agreement, and the provisions of the law.
Therefore, the court sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count one and one-year imprisonment on count two.
The court said that the sentences shall run consecutively by the plea bargain agreement between both parties. Therefore, the total term of imprisonment shall be eight years.
It is ordered that this sentence shall begin as of the date he was remanded, October 10, 2017. As a result, the time he’s already spent in custody will be taken into account.
“In the light of the nature of the offence in count one and by the relevant provision of section 32 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021, this court orders that you, David Charles, be registered as a sex offender.
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