A 29-year-old man from Corentyne, Region Six, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the sexual assault of a five-year-old boy.

Sanjay Peters, who lived at Williamsburg Corentyne, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the child on two occasions—on July 1 and August 5, 2018—in the Berbice area.

The conviction came after a trial held in December 2025 at the Berbice High Court, presided over by Justice Sandil Kissoon. A jury of twelve determined Peters’ guilt on both counts of sexual assault.

On Tuesday, Senior Social Services Officer Judith Fulton presented a probation report to the court, highlighting that several community members expressed their distrust of Peters, particularly when it comes to the safety of children.

At the time of the offenses, Peters was in a four-year common-law relationship.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Kissoon emphasised the severity of the crimes, stating that abuse of trust and violence against minors would not be tolerated in society.

The judge noted that there were no mitigating factors to consider and remarked that Peters continues to deny the charges. He further stated that Peters is not fit to be part of society.

The court ruled that Peter must benefit from rehabilitation programmes while incarcerated.

Representing the state was Cicela Corbin, while Peters was defended by Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan.

Editor’s Note: The headline of this story initially stated that the man was charged after raping the boy. It has since been updated.