BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - VALNEY SOUTHWELL of Lodge Village was intensely scolded by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas yesterday (Mar. 8) before being slapped with a seven year prison sentence for fondling one of his employees.
Southwell appeared at the Basseterre High Court for sentencing after being found guilty by a 12-member jury of Indecent Assault, an offence that was committed on May 31, 2011.
Before passing sentence, the judge scolded Southwell stressing on the fact that the victim, a 22-year-old female, was his friend's daughter.
"What is horrendous and shameful is that it is your friend's daughter! Let me say that again, it is your friend's daughter!! She is 22 years old, you must have girls (daughters) her age!
"The victim did not even have time to put down her bag in the office before you moved on her; It is clear to the court that it was planned and you moved with strength and speed."
The judge continued: "On the first day of employment, you were already looking for what you didn't put there. Offering to buy her [victim] lunch, telling her she can use your jeep whenever she wanted and telling her 'baby do this, baby do that'...You are 59 years old and she is 22, and it is your friend's daughter!"
Two persons also spoke on Southwell's behalf, begging the court to go easy on him, stressing that he is a respectable gentleman who owns a lucrative security company and that he is a firm believer in God.
They also spoke about Southwell's background noting that he was a part of the United States Military and also a police officer for a number of years.
"If he is given some consideration, he can pick up the pieces of his life and put them back together. He [Southwell] would very much appreciate if some mercy or kindness can be showed to Valney," one person said.
Attorney-at-Law Chesley Hamilton who represented Southwell asked the court to have mercy on him and take his age and the fact that this is his first offence into consideration and maybe put him on probation, giving him the opportunity to have his medical needs taken care of.
"You are a grown man who should have known better, not even adding your qualifications, and you should be put on probation? That cannot work! Older people should be setting an example for the younger people," the judge said.
Justice Thomas also said, in response to Hamilton's plea to consider Southwell's illnesses, "If the prisoner knew he had all of these complaints, why not stick to your wife and leave the young people alone? The prisoner in his own evidence said he's married for 22 years with a son and he also has three daughters."
According to the evidence presented in court, Southwell made several sexual attempts at a 22-year-old female employee on her first day of work.
It was revealed that he put his hand down her blouse and attempted to fondle her breasts, and he also put his hand up her skirt.
It was also revealed that he made attempts to kiss her and requested that she perform sexual acts on him.
