AN HIV positive Tsholotsho man was on Monday sentenced to 20 years in jail for the anal rape of a six-year-old girl.

The 35-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira.

The court heard that the attack occurred on the night of April 21 when the man entered the hut where the girl was sleeping with her younger brother.

Prosecutor, Goodluck Katenaire said once inside the hut the man stripped and proceeded to rape little girl.

When the younger brother woke up and asked him what he was doing, he quickly got up, dressed and left the hut.

The boy told their mother about the incident and a report was made to the police, leading to the man’s arrest.

The man confessed to being HIV positive during mitigation and appealed for lenience, arguing prison was not conducive with a person with his condition.

Medical reports produced in court however showed that the girl is HIV negative.