A 29-year-old tricycle rider who defiled a 3-year-old girl he conveyed to and from school has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by the Wa High Court.The convict, Mashood Naah, was found guilty after a full trial. He had denied the charge of defilement of a child under 16 years.The case was prosecuted by State Attorney Miriam Amoako.Presenting the facts, Ms. Amoako told the court presided over by Justice Wusu Osei Antwi that on February 21, 2026, the mother of the victim noticed injuries on the child while bathing her.The victim disclosed that the accused, known as ‘Uncle Mashood’, had sexually assaulted her.The matter was reported to DOVVSU, Wa. A medical examination at the Upper West Regional Hospital confirmed sexual assault.After a full trial, Justice Wusu Osei Antwi held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the accused.In passing sentence, the court said the convict breached the trust reposed in him as someone who conveyed the child daily, describing his conduct as grave.He was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment in hard labour to serve as a deterrent.Speaking after the judgment, a family member, Abdul Moomin Yakubu, said the family was grateful to the court for serving justice for the 3-year-old.According to him, although it was initially surprising, all the evidence pointed to the accused, who was the same person trusted to carry the child to and from school.“The child herself indicated that the very man who has been carrying her to and from school is the same person who committed this heinous crime. The court has done what we expected and we believe this will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.He added that a child of that age needs to be protected and expressed satisfaction that the state had protected the child.“The law is the law,” he stressed.