Bible study teacher convicted of rape

A church Bible study teacher has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child at least three times between 2017 and 2018, starting when she was 11 years old.

The man was found guilty of rape, grievous sexual assault and two counts of indecent assault in the Home Circuit Court on Monday. At the time of the sexual assaults, the child was living with her foster parents who were also the leaders of the downtown Kingston church where the man led Bible study for children. He regularly visited the child's foster father, who is also the pastor of the church, at the family's St Andrew home to "pray about church affairs", according to evidence led by prosecutor Syleen O'Gilvie, an assistant director of public prosecutions.

The first incident occurred in 2017, when the man went to the home while both parents were away and touched the child on her private parts. The second incident occurred on March 6, 2018, when the then 12-year-old was preparing for the Primary Exit Profile exams and was attending an evening class at a tutor's house in the community. The man reportedly used his hand to touch the child on her private parts.

In the third incident on March 9, 2018, he went to the home and saw the child seated at the top of a flight of steps. He pulled her towards him, but she told him to "Let go". Instead, he dragged her down the steps to a private area and forcibly had sexual intercourse with the child. He also ordered the child to perform a sex act on him. The assault occurred while the child's caregiver was inside sleeping. The child told her caregiver who accompanied the man when he surrendered to the police on March 13, 2018. Five witnesses, including the caregiver who was at the house during the third assault, gave evidence during the trial. The verdict by the seven-member jury was unanimous.

The man is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16.