heartfelt apology by an 18-year-old man who was about to be sentenced for rape.

Jermaine O. Simmons of Sandys, told the court that he could not stress enough his "utmost genuine sincere apology'' to the 14-year-old Sandys girl he raped in the early hours of the morning on May 9 1993 and "all who received any hurt on her side''.

He also said: "I also express sincere apology to all my family and loved ones.'' Simmons pleaded guilty to rape and inflicting grievous bodily harm on the girl. And Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Meerabux sentenced him to five years in prison for rape and two years in prison for grievous bodily harm which will run concurrently.

Prosecuting for the Crown Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo told the court that on May 8 last year the complainant attended a reggae session at the Prison Officers Club in Sandys with her sister.

"At about 2 a.m. on May 9 she left the session heading home in Southampton on back of a motorcycle ridden by her sister,'' Mr. Tokunbo said.

He added: "She and her sister traveled as far as Arnold's Supermarket on Main Road in Sandys where they stopped and engaged in a heated argument with each other.

"In the midst of their argument Simmons rode up on another cycle, stopped and offered the complainant a lift on his cycle.

"Wanting to get away from her sister and the argument, the complainant got on Simmons' cycle and rode off with him.'' Mr. Tokunbo also said that Simmons and the girl did not know each other. "She told him she was going to Barnes Corner in Southampton, but instead of continuing along Main Road out of Sandys Simmons turned off by Somerset Cricket Club and headed to the railway tracks,'' Mr. Tokunbo said.

The complainant questioned the route he was travelling but in response Simmons' used profanity to tell her not to worry about the route he was taking as he knew the way.

After travelling a short distance Simmons asked the complainant for sex in exchange for giving her a ride home. She refused his request.

Mr. Tokunbo added: "He then stopped the cycle near a bench and pushed the complainant off. He forced himself on top of her on the bench and pinned her down. She struggled, pleaded with him and cried, eventually managing to break free.

"Around that time an approaching cycle with two males was stopped by the complainant and she asked them to help her because of what Simmons had done and was still doing.

"Simmons told the two men not to believe her as she was lying. After telling her to walk down to the main road near Lantana Colony Club the two men rode off, leaving Simmons and the complainant alone.'' Mr. Tokunbo said the complainant ran off further in the direction of Lantana but was caught up by Simmons who had got onto his cycle and pursued her.

Simmons was very angry with the complainant because of her plea to the two men on the passing cycle.

"He punched her face, dragged her across the road, pushed her over a railing and down an embankment on the water's edge. He then descended the embankment, sat on top of the complainant, held her to the ground and began tearing her T-Shirt and pulling her clothes off as she struggled and resisted,'' Mr.

Tokunbo said.

"As Simmons did this he punched the screaming complainant several times in the head and face, thereby rendering her unconscious. While she was unconscious Simmons engaged in sexual intercourse with her and ejaculated in her vagina,'' Mr. Tokunbo added.

He also said that sometime after 3.30 a.m. two young men who were riding through the railway trail became curious on seeing Simmons' cycle in the road along with other items of personal property so they stopped and called out.

The complainant, who by now had regained consciousness, found Simmons lying on the ground near her with his head resting on her legs.

His trousers and underwear were lying nearby and the complainant had no clothing on from her waist down.

"She grabbed her pants and ran up the embankment screaming to the two young men for help. They proceeded down the embankment and identified Simmons who then put his pants on and left the scene. The matter was then reported to the Police,'' Mr. Tokunbo said.

He added: "At the scene of the incident Police found various items of clothing and jewellery belonging to the complainant which were ripped off her during the struggle.'' Simmons was later arrested and admitted raping and violently assaulting the complainant.

He told the officers that he was drunk and out of control as he had been to the reggae session at the Prison Officer's Club and had a good 20 drinks of vodka, and tequila and orange.

Mr. Tokunbo also said that the complainant was treated at King Edward VII Hospital for various injuries which included severe swelling and soreness to her face and extensive bruises and abrasions all over her body.

He added: "The facts of this case are rather unpleasant. The defendant is a young man and the victim was 14-years-old at the time.

"The defendant used brutal force to overwhelm the young lady at some hour in the morning.'' Mr. Tokunbo also said that the youth of the defendant "must not be given excess consideration.

"The sentence given to Simmons must reflect the courts and the society's complete disapproval of an offence of this kind with such aggravated evidence.'' Mr. Tokunbo suggested a term of imprisonment between seven and ten years be given to Simmons.

Simmons' lawyer Mr. Archie Warner said: "The defendant is extremely remorseful which comes from knowing the seriousness of the offence.

"There is an abundance of evidence on the record that indicates that the main factor that brought about the behaviour of the defendant was drunkiness.'' He added: "Young people should not go to prison, a prison it is not designed to deal with young people. I suggested he be sentenced to a period of three years of corrective training.'' But an upset Mr. Justice Meerabux said: "I find this case very distressing.

What concerns me is that Simmons and the 14-year-old girl were at the Prison Officers Club, and also the quality of parenting skills in the informative years which contributes to a lack of self discipline.

"The other thing that concerns me is the quality of parenting supervision, allowing children to be hanging out in the streets.'' He added: "A rapist remains a rapist in their relationship with the victim.

They are a menace to society and a horror to woman. We have to protect our women. Our men must respect that when a woman says no she means no.'' Mr. Justice Meerabux also ordered that Simmons receive counselling to build up his self-esteem.'' At the end of his letter Simmons told Mr. Justice Meerabux: "I realise you have to sentence me and my hope is that my time spent in prison won't hold me back too long from my goals and supportive family.''