CAPS United defender David Sengu has been given a community service sentence after admitting sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
Sengu, 26, was brought to the Mbare Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in leg irons and khakhi prison uniform to learn his fate on a charge of statutory rape.
Magistrate Patience Ururu-Madondo credited Sengu for his guilty plea, but said the crime was “serious”.
She sentenced the footballer to 30 months in prison but suspended 15 months conditionally. A further 15 months was suspended on condition that he completes 525 hours of community service.
The magistrate told Sengu before sentencing: “You pleaded guilty thereby saving the court's time. You are also a youthful offender who is not yet married.
“However, you committed an offence of a serious nature. The legislature crafted this offence in order to protect young girls from exploitation and this court is alive to that fact.
"You are not yet married and have told this court that you look forward to marrying the girl. I considered community service as the appropriate punishment.”
Earlier, Sengu had told the magistrate under cross examination that he intended marrying the girl, who is now 16 – the legal age of consent.
The footballer, the court heard, met the girl in November last year and they had sex on three occasions between then and January this year.
On a visit to Zimbabwe in January, the girl’s mother who is based in South Africa learnt of the affair and called the police.