Clinton Anthony Doris, who was last month found guilty by a jury of using sweets and money to lure a seven-year-old girl to his home and then raping her, was yesterday sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Describing his actions as abhorrent, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who imposed the sentence, pointed out to the 37-year-old father of two that he had taken advantage of the trust which he knew the child and her parents reposed in him.
And as if the sexual assault was not already enough, the judge recalled from evidence presented during the trial the lengths Doris had gone to in order to conceal his crime by hiding out at a friend’s house and even denying his alias “Masquerade Man,” by which he is popularly known in his community.
Recognising these as aggravating factors while noting that she found nothing in mitigation, Justice Barlow said that the sentence was fitting as Doris, who had acknowledged being fond of children, needed to be kept away from them.
She said, too, that the fact he continued to maintain his innocence, indicated that he was not remorseful for what he had done and so no discount could be given for mitigation.
The judge expressed the hope that the convict would use his time behind bars to reflect on his actions, and resolve to change so that he would be reformed on his release from prison.
Against this background, she admonished him to take advantage of any reform programmes offered by the prison service for sexual offenders.
From a probation report presented by Probation and Social Services Officer Anand Sharma, the court heard of Doris’ love for children and being around them. It was noted that he would often give them treats.
Sharma said that in his interview with the man, he continued to maintain his innocence, while stating that the charge had caused him much embarrassment.
The probation officer said that while Doris continued to deny the jury’s verdict, the court had an important role in sending a strong message of deterrence, making clear that such crimes would not be condoned and that children ought to be protected at all cost.
Sharma said that in an interview, the child, who is now 12-years-old, related how happy she had been prior to the assault, but has since become withdrawn, angry and scared at the convict.
Sharma noted that the child’s innocence was lost in a “most brutal manner.”
In his attempt to mitigate on his client’s behalf as he sought leniency from the judge, defence attorney Ravendra Mohabir advanced that Doris had no antecedents. At the same time, he tried to underscore the important role of a father in a child’s life. On this point, he said that Doris’ two children, including a five-month-old, would be left fatherless because of his incarceration, and so he had asked Justice Barlow to temper justice with mercy.
Given the aggravating factors and the nature and gravity of the offence committed, however, the judge said that the arguments made by counsel could not be considered in mitigation.
From a victim impact statement read by the child’s counsellor Celeste Mullin, the court heard of how terrible she felt because of the assault, and that she had never before felt emotional and physical pain of such magnitude.
The court heard from the statement that because of the assault, the now 12-year-old avoids strangers and does not take things from persons, even if they are family acquaintances.
“I never expected Masquerade Man do such a thing to me. Looking at his face makes me scared and hurt all over again. I want him to go to jail for what he did to me,” the statement quoted the child as saying.
The charge on which Doris was convicted stated that on March 27th, 2014, he engaged in sexual penetration of the seven-year-old child.
While convicted last month, Doris’ sentencing had been deferred to facilitate the probation report.
The state’s case was led by Prosecutor Lisa Cave, in association with Seeta Bishundial and Sarah Martin.
The trial had been heard in-camera at the High Court in Georgetown.
