BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A 59-year-old man has taken up residence at Her Majesty's Prison for the next five years after he was found guilty of a sexual offence.
Lindsey Southwell appeared yesterday (Feb. 23) before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas at the Basseterre High Court charged with indecent assault of a certain young lady; an offence which he committed on June 4, 2011.
A guilty verdict was handed down by a 12-member jury but, according to his Social Inquiry Report presented by Probation Officer Wingrove George, Southwell maintained that “if any touching went on, it was by accident”.
The report stated that Southwell would have liked the evidence to be revisited because they were too graphic. However, on the other hand, he did not cross-examine the witness when given the opportunity.
Before being sentenced, Southwell asked the court for leniency, noting that he is very sorry for the way things went on the day in question.
"I am not one of those persons out there committing crime. I am a hard working man who tries to help people whenever I can,” he said.
He asked the judge for leniency, continuously stating that he was very sorry about what transpired.
Before passing sentence, His Lordship told Southwell that there were measures he could have taken within the law after being charged but, instead, he decided to waste the court's time.
"You had the opportunity upfront to plead guilty if you were so sorry...All the blows you inflicted on the lady were tremendous, especially to a minor person," the judge said.
His Lordship said that sexual offence is prevalent and the court should do what it has to do.
