Man jailed for sexually assaulting 13-y-o - Cops hunt his alleged crony

The Hanover police have vowed to come down heavily on sex offenders, as they search for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Lucea several weeks ago.

Commanding officer of the Hanover police, Superintendent Sharon Beeput, said the police will not tolerate the sexual assault, molestation or abuse of minors.

"The police are very effective, and we are putting all our efforts in the sexually related cases," she said. "We are pulling all stops when it comes to sexually related cases in the division. Perpetrators must (know) that the Hanover police will find them and bring them to justice."

The mother of the 13-year-old told THE WEEKEND STAR that her daughter was sexually assaulted in March. She said the incident was reported to the Lucea police, and following a doctor's report and an investigation, one of the men was arrested. She lamented, however, that in some cases, the accused walk free.

"It's not right, because we as mothers, and even the child, suffer from all of this, and it is devastating at times because when you sit down with your child, and look back on it, and you and her try to reason on it, it bothers her a lot," the mother added. Beeput gave an update on the accused.

"One man has since been charged in connection with that particular incident. He has been identified as 20-year-old Romaine Watson, also of a Lucea address, and he is now before the court on charges of grievous sexual assault," Beeput said. "Watson was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and as part of his bail condition he was ordered to reside in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and report to the police on Mondays and Thursdays, between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m."

THE WEEKEND STAR learnt that since the start of the year, Hanover has reported five sexual-related cases, compared to 12 cases during the corresponding period last year.