A man, whom a judge said showed a "patent lack of remorse" for having a sexual relationship with an underage girl, was on Wednesday jailed for 15 years.

Walter Gray, 29, was convicted of two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse following a trial before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson.

Gray was a family friend of the victim and lived in the same neighborhood.

According to the virtual complainant, Gray would come and check on her while her mother and uncle were at work.

When she was 13, the complainant said, she asked him to perform oral sex on him. Gray obliged and told her not to tell anyone, she said.

During his testimony, Gray denied willingly having sex with the girl. He claimed he fell asleep on the sofa at her home and woke up to find the child performing oral sex on him.

The judge said Gray should have allowed the victim to "complete her childhood".

Grant-Thompson said, "Even if this child, who you walked daily to the shop, came onto you, you should have instructed her to put her clothes back on, not willingly have sexual intercourse with her or put your penis in her mouth."

She said that Gray was entitled to the most condign punishment given his breach of trust.

The prosecutor, Erica Duncombe-Ingraham, had sought a sentence in the range of 10 to 15 years.

On the other hand, defense lawyer Moses Bain, asked for a two-year prison sentence followed by five years of probation, with a breach of probation sending Gray to prison for five years.

Bain also suggested an order that Gray perform 150 hours of community service.

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