An unemployed 58-year-old man accused of inviting a child to his home for anal sex, has been remanded to Dodds Prison.
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John Garfield Springer, of Trotman Road, Cleavers Hill, St Joseph, appeared before Magistrate Deborah Beckles in the District “D” Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge that on May 29, for the purposes of sexual gratification, he allegedly made sexual communication with a minor – aged seven – by saying to her: “Gear up for tonight; don’t forget to come by me. I gine *** you and . . . make sure you don’t holler for nobody to hear you. As a matter o’ fact, nobody ain’t gine hear you because I gine tie up your mouth with a shirt.”
In objecting to bail, prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Leacock said the little girl was now fearful of attending school. She referred to information received stating that Springer tried to interact with the girl prior to May 29 – both within her district and while she was on school premises.
Leacock said she believed that if the court were to grant the accused bail, he would likely interfere with or intimidate the child.
She added that the Barbados Police Service was facing not only instances of missing children, but offences similar to the current one which “have caused a public outcry for the police and the judicial system to do more to protect children”.
The prosecutor went on to say that even though the accused was not known to the court in relation to similar offences, he already had 32 previous convictions; among them burglary, theft, criminal damage and loitering.
Springer, who was not represented by an attorney, did not make a bail application.
Magistrate Beckles remanded him until June 27, when he is set to appear before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District “F” Magistrates’ Court. (SD)