Theodore Horsford, a 21-year-old Briggins man, has pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a child and has been sentenced to two years’ probation as well as a $1000 fine.
Horsford was 19 when he had intercourse with his 13-year-old victim in January 2019.
He reportedly met the girl when she was in primary school, although the offence occurred while she was in secondary school.
One day after school, the child accompanied by some friends went to the accused’s Briggins home where she admitted to having a crush on him.
When asked if she wanted to have sex, she said yes, the court heard.
They then went to the bedroom where she took off her school uniform and they proceeded to engage in sexual activity.
The minor spent that night at the home of a third party. She was spotted the next morning as people were looking for her.
She admitted to having sex with Horsford and he was later arrested.
In arriving at his judgement, Justice Iain Morley considered several factors.
He began with a sentence of 18 months since he considered the crime to fall in the “lowest category” of rape offences.
The sentence was increased to 24 months when the judge considered that the convict “closed his mind to her being at least under 16”.
But noting his good character, the term was reduced by six months.
His guilty plea entitled him to a third reduction in his sentence making it a 12-month sentence.
However after consulting with the Probation of Offenders Act 1921 cap 345, the judge held that that section of the law allowed for a conditional discharge in appropriate circumstances.
Justice Morley reviewed the fact that Horsford was under 21 at the time, had no previous convictions and does not present a risk or danger to the public or the complainant, has been compliant to court orders and has a daughter on the way.
He then concluded that an “appropriate punishment can be achieved by something other than immediate custody”.
The judge decided to grant the convict probation instead, with several conditions.
The probation order stated that for a period of two years Horsford “shall enter into a recognizance without a surety to complete a probation order,” will be supervised, must attend court for review in six months, shall live at a specified address in Briggins, must refrain from becoming inebriated and must attend courses ordered by his supervisor.
In addition, his probation officer has “liberty…to vary or discharge the order.”
And if he breaches probation he will be resentenced and may receive a custodial term.
That breach was held to include committing further offences.
Furthermore, Horsford must pay $1000 within 3 months or spend 3 months in jail.
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Wow! Probation! Just wow! This Judge handing out slaps on the wrist to these big men RAPING these little girls OVER AND OVER AGAIN … SMH … HORRIBLE …
Well big man who wants to RAPE a child 12 years old or 13 years old … I GUESS ANTIGUA IS THE PLACE TO BE!
I’m sick to my stomach
PLACE TO BE? NA-A-AH!
Justice Iain Morley might be the he ‘…Best Judge To Go Before.’
Professionally speaking, the ‘…Consideration and Leniency’ given or shown to this ‘Sex-convict,’ appeared to be nothing short of ‘…Judicial Recklessness.’
There is no doubt that ‘…Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Anthony Armstrong would waste no time in appealing this apparent ‘…Reckless Sentence.’
…”Judicial Recklessness…”
Very strong language coming from, someone like you Pompey!
Questions:
A…where are the churches and other community organizations outrage?
B…can this judge be censured?
There’s a hell of a lot, to say about, the Crime to the sentencing; but, in many instances, it’s clear that much, much more needs to be done, otherwise, the slippery slope to perdition, will welcome the lubricants coming it’s way!
BACK RAS SMOOD
You know ‘RS,’ thin line between ‘Contempt of Court’ and ‘Freedom of Speech.’
Based upon what is contained in the ‘…Sexual Offences Act’ [Section 5: No 9 of 1995], the ‘…Sentence of Probation and the Fine,’ are not only ‘…Wrong in law,’ but also ‘…Wrong Like Hell.’
RASpect my friend.
Have not been on this page for a while.
Good to see you back as well.
A real slap in the face. So, because he did not enquire her age he is shown leniency. If he knew her since in primary school he should hsve had an idea of her age. Total nonsense! A who dah judge dey!
This child was more likely than not forced to relive her trauma through the court procedures for essentially nothing. It’s also interesting that this particular justice consistently hands down sentences that are a slap in the face to those who have been victimized by these criminals.
Also it’s not “sex with a 13 year old girl”. It is rape. She was raped.
From the article, she gave Consent. They were both Children. I can’t see that this was an easy task for the judge.
Where are the parents, especially the mothers to love, care and protect their children, especially their little girls?
In my ideal world, the parents of both the victim and the perpetrator would be sentenced to a minimum of six months in prison.
This is nasty. That pedophile should have gotten at least 20 years, plus court order castration. Why are these judges doing stuff like that?
A man raped a 13 year old girl.He go 12 months in prison.This man,he had sex with a 13 year old girl and gets Probation.What the hell is going on with the Courts in Antigua.Older men having sex with under aged little girls.That has been going on in Antigua for far to long now.I am going back to the early 1960’s.I have said before that we need to sentence them to Prison and with castration as a part of such sentencing.Not a damn thing less.
RAPE and this MAN gets probation????
Something is VERY wrong here.
Yesterday it was 12 months less time served & good behaviour, so 6 months – similarly farcical sentence.
Time for the Ministers of Gender Affairs, Education, Health, the AG, the GG, community groups, Girl Guides, Rotary, Lions, Bar Association, W.A.R., the Christian Council, School Principals, Unions, Opposition Parties ….EVERY DECENT HUMAN BEING to be ANGRY & speak up.
Media – please use the word RAPE … Not polite words to mask the ugly truth.
The VICTIMS of rape live with the traumatic emotional / mental health consequences for the rest of their lives.
These cases involve UNDER AGE children, they cannot ‘consent’.
It begs the question if some family members or relatives are trafficking underage girls and boys for sex with adults.
Reader – ARE YOU OK WITH ALL OF THIS?
When is Antigua going to deport all the illegal Jamaicans and D.R.’s that are living amongst us?
This “sentence “ does not give me faith in your judiciary !! I will not feel safe returning to your lovely island where I have spent many wonderful holidays .
Probation? Try castration! A child that young cannot consent! Period.
Fair sentence. Sensible judge.
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