A man who molested a 16-year-old girl while she was asleep, has been jailed for three years, two months and 17 days.

On October 25, 2019, the victim went to her home in Ba to spend her weekend. When she arrived home from Suva, she saw the offender for the first time who was staying with her family.

At about 11pm, the victim and her family went to sleep.

At around 4am, when the victim was sleeping, she felt someone was touching her private parts.

She woke up feeling pain and screamed. She recognised the offender from the light outside.

Justice Sunil Sharma said the offender was staying at the house of the victim who was like a family member and that he had grossly breached the trust of the victim and her family.

He added that since it was the victim’s house, she was expected to be safe.

“You are a selfish person who does not deserve any mercy from this court,” Justice Sharma.

“This is not the way to repay for the kindness of a family who trusted you.”

The man was handed a non-parole period of two years.

Edited by Selita Rabuku 

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