20-year-old man from Shurugwi sentenced to 8 years in jail for trying to rape a 14-year old girl who rejected his love proposal

A 20-year-old man from Shurugwi has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl after she rejected his love proposal.

The man was found guilty by a Gweru Court.

On August 26, in the Chirasha area of Zhaugwe, he approached the girl as she was walking home and proposed to her. When she said no, he pushed her to the ground and tried to assault her, ZBC reports.

Fortunately, the girl screamed for help, and a passerby intervened. The man ran away but was later caught by the police.

Initially, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but seven years were suspended on the condition that he does not commit a similar crime for five years.

He will serve a total of eight years behind bars.