A policeman who at gun-point abducted a 16-year-old school girl and attempted to rape her is to serve 10 years' imprisonment for the offences.

Constable Dwayne Whyte, 34, was sentenced to a total of 22 years, but will serve 10 years as the sentences are to run concurrently.Acting Supreme Court Judge Martin Gayle sentenced Whyte to two years' imprisonment for attempted rape, 10 years' for abduction and ten years' for illegal possession of firearm.

The judge found Whyte guilty last month of the charges, but sentencing was put off until yesterday.

The Crown led evidence at the trial in the Gun Court that sometime in 2006, the girl was at a bus stop on Gordon Town Road, St Andrew. She was on her way to school to sit an examination. Whyte pointed a gun at her and ordered her into his motor car. He drove to Jacks Hill, St Andrew, where he attempted to rape the girl.

Escaped unhurt

She managed to escape from the motor car and stopped a passing motorist who took her to the police station. The motorist also wrote down the licence number of the motor car from which the girl had escaped.

Whyte was subsequently arrested and charged.

He said in his defence that the girl had consented to go to Jacks Hill. He denied pointing a gun at her.