A 37-year-old man from Mugute Village in Penhalonga has been sentenced to 20 years for repeatedly raping his 16-year-old niece.

The abuse began in August 2023 when the convict called the girl to a disused kitchen and raped her after threatening to kill her.

Over the next few months, the man continued to sexually abuse his niece, raping her multiple times in September, October, November, January, and February 2024.

The abuse was only discovered in August 2024 when the girl's sister visited and noticed her bulging stomach.

Initially, the girl refused to reveal the identity of the person responsible for her pregnancy until her brother confronted her.

The matter was then reported to the police, and medical examinations confirmed the girl was pregnant.

The sentence was hand down by the Penhalonga magistrates' court.