A 54-year old man will serve 13 years behind bars for raping his 13-year-old niece.

The incident happened on 20th June last year when the victim had gone to the accused home to sleep with his children because her mother was away.

The Court heard that the man forcefully took the complainant to her mother’s house at midnight and had sexual intercourse with her.

The Court was also told that the man blocked her mouth with his underpants when she tried to raise alarm.

After the incident the perpetrator told the victim not to tell anyone about the incident – or he will do something to her.

While sentencing the man Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo said he breached the trust of the complainant as he is the elder brother of her mother.

Judge Temo said this is yet another case of the rape of a child and the court will not stand idly by and watch the most vulnerable been exploited by adults.

The man has a non-parole sentence of 10 years.