Rapist Sentenced to Over 16 Years for Attack on Woman Walking to Work

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A man who brutally raped and robbed a woman on her way to work in October 2023 will spend more than 16 years behind bars after being sentenced in the St Catherine Circuit Court on Monday.

The convicted rapist was handed three sentences by Justice Yvonne Brown:

• 16 years and three months for rape
• 8 years and nine months for forcible abduction
• 12 years and six months for robbery with aggravation

The judge ruled that the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve just over 16 years, and must spend at least 10 years before becoming eligible for parole.

The man pleaded guilty on September 23, 2024, avoiding a trial.

The Attack

According to court evidence, at about 5:30 a.m. on October 23, 2023, the victim — an administrative assistant — was walking to work when the man accosted her. He dragged her to a deserted spot where he raped her, stole her money and personal items, and then fled the scene.

The victim reported the incident to the police, and investigators from the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) swiftly launched a probe, which led to the man’s arrest and eventual conviction.

The case has once again underscored the dangers faced by women commuting early in the morning, and police continue to urge citizens to report such crimes and remain vigilant.