A Beit Bridge villager, who had raped his 80-year-old granny in her home before he was caught after falling asleep after the attack, was sentenced to 16 years in jail.

The 30-year-old man, who admitted he had known the old woman “since birth,” was convicted of rape by a magistrate, Ms Fadzai Mthombeni. The man, of Madabe village outside Beit Bridge, will serve an effective 14 years, after two years of the sentence were conditionally suspended for five years.

It was testified that the man, a brick moulder, had unlawfully entered the old woman’s sleeping hut on the night of July 9. He found the woman in her bed clothes and threatened her with death if she made any noise.

The court heard that he covered the granny´s mouth with one hand before raping her. After waiting a few minutes, he raped her a second time before falling asleep by her side. The woman sneaked out and raised the alarm.

Police found the man asleep in the granny´s bed. He pleaded with the court to be lenient with him, claiming that he was sorry for what he had done. “I have known her since birth and I deeply regret my actions,” he told the magistrate before being sentenced.