BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DOUGLAS ANNIEL a 43-year-old man of Shepherd Street, Newtown, was sentenced to two ‘2-year and eight months sentences’ to run consecutively with each other for indecent assault of two different boys, by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas, today February 2, at the Basseterre High Court.
The maximum sentence for indecently assaulting a boy is four years in prison. His Lordship originally imposed the four year sentence for each count but as a result of Anniel’s two guilty pleas the law allowed a third reduction of years in sentencing.
Justice Thomas said that the maximum sentence is inadequate and he wished the penalty could have been amended at that time so that he was able to impose Anniel with a much harsher sentence.
“You are a disgrace. Look at the dirty things you are telling the children to do,” His Lordship said.
According to the prosecution Anniel assaulted a 10 year-old boy on June 4, 2011 at some place in Basseterre while some time between July 11 and July 31 2010 in Basseterre he indecently assaulted a 13-year-old boy.
Anniel’s social inquiry which was prepared by Wingrove George, Anniel stated that he was drunk, “when this thing happen and don’t really remember what happened”.
The report also said that Anniel was no stranger to that type of offence as he has had at least one prison conviction of that nature among nine other convictions.
The report stated: “…(Anniel) should have by this time been thinking of being an upright and productive citizen in this country. But instead he has chosen to have committed one of the sickest offences one can think about”.
Probation officer George also stated in his report that the department condemns Anniels actions after taking a very serious look at the nature of offense.
“It takes a very abnormal person to perpetrate such a horrendous crime against a child and not show any remorse. Mr. Anniel should be made to pay dearly for his actions. I am not sure if there is any room in a free and civil society for any human being as sick as Mr. Anniel.
An unrepresented Anniel before the court said he was sorry for what he did and for those he hurt and asked the court to consider the time he spent in jail.
