Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Supreme Court Judge Gloria Smith sent a strong message against men who molest young girls when she jailed a man for four years for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old who is now the mother of his child.

Rayon Mason, a 24-year-old vendor of Airy Castle Road, St. Andrew, had pleaded guilty in the Home Circuit Court to three counts of carnal abuse.

The facts of the case were that, between July and August 2006, Mason had sexual intercourse three times with the girl. She became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl in March this year.

When the girl's mother discovered she was pregnant, she reported the matter to the police.

A social enquiry report was ordered after Mason pleaded guilty.

The report stated that Mason was always gainfully employed and the people in his community described him as well behaved. The report stated that Mason said he had blundered and had to be punished but he was asking the court not to send him to prison so he could be a good father to his child.

Sending a message

Attorney-at-law Michael Lorne, who represented Mason, made an impassioned plea for the judge to impose a non-custodial sentence.

Miss Justice Gloria Smith said she had no choice but to send Mason to prison because a strong message must be sent to other like-minded men to leave little girls alone.

Mason was sentenced to four years imprisonment on each count but the sentences are to run concurrently.