A 22-year-old man was on Tuesday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by Kithimani law courts for defiling a 14-year-old girl. 

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Appearing before senior resident magistrate Gilbert Shikwe, the accused Joseph Kitavi Nzioki pleaded guilty to the charges. 

The court heard that the accused committed the act on December 21, 2016 in Kangundo farm village, Ndithini location, Masinga sub-county. 

In mitigation, the accused claimed that he was in a serious relationship with the girl and was planning to marry her saying that even the girl's father was aware of the relationship. 

The judge while giving his verdict said that the accused committed the heinous act knowingly and therefore gave him a 20 year sentence and 14 days to appeal.