a protector rather than the villain. It is indeed a sad fact that instead of diminishing, this phenomenon is gaining momentum and has become so wide spread that it now forms part of the daily news reports not only in Lesotho but in other countries as well. It is a grave cause for serious concern and certainly needs to be discouraged at all costs. One way is by the Courts marking their displeasure by imposing serious punishments that properly reflect the gravity thereof.” [12] I have already shown that the court a quo meted out the prescribed minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. However, in the light of the principles that I have referred to above and the compelling circumstances of this case, it is my view that the prescribed sentence is disproportionate to the crime committed in this case which took place for lengthy period, resulting in the young girl falling pregnant. It does necessitate this Court’s intervention. [13] Further, the courts have prescribed much higher sentences in similar cases and it is only fair that there should be some form of uniformity in all. For example, in another case that was brought before me for review at the same time as the present one, to wit, R v Sebeso Masitha CRI/526/13, the accused was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of fifteen years yet his offence was of a lesser degree than the present one by way of comparison. [14] It is also worthy to note that in the Leteba case, (supra) I sentenced the accused to imprisonment for a period of twenty (20) years

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