Drug dealer jailed for raping teen

A RUTHLESS drug-dealer is behind bars today after raping a 14-year-old girl to settle a drugs debt.

Paul Dibi, 27, of Bramford Road, in Ipswich, was locked up after a jury found him guilty of raping the youngster in an Ipswich alleyway in Austin Street on February 23 last year.

In sending him to six years in jail, Judge John Devaux told Liberian-born Dibi: “You used her as a method of payment for drugs.

“That is why you felt that you were entitled to treat her in this way and in addition no protection was used.”

Details of the rape were not discussed during the sentencing hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, but during an earlier hearing in the case Godfried Duah, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court: “It was a Thursday evening. The victim is a school girl.

“After school she went to see a friend. The friend took her to her boyfriend's house.

“He took the other girl into one of the bedrooms. This young girl stood on her own and watched TV.

“Later on the other girl came out of the bedroom and the man went out to buy alcohol.

“She remained in the house with the other girl. She was massaging the other girl and there was some suggestion of a threesome.

“The other girl then made a phone call to someone. There was some talk about payment for drugs.

“The victim is then taken out of the house and walks to an alleyway. That's where they met Dibi.

“There is a discussion about payment for drugs which have been supplied to the other girl.”

Mr Duah told the court the girl told police Dibi got the girl down on her knees and grabbed the back of her head before telling her to perform a sex act on him.

He told the court Dibi then held the girl down before raping her. The attack lasted for between ten and 15 minutes.

Mr Duah said: “She was so distressed that she didn't go home until the next day.

“She was crying when she got home and her mother asked her what was wrong.”

At Dibi's sentencing, Judge Devaux said: “Such premeditation as there was was comparatively short.

“Sex, I've no doubt, was on your mind but at that stage it was likely to be consensual sex.

“The complainant was 14 at the time. If you didn't know her precise age it was clear to you that she was a very young woman. You were 26.

“She was affected by alcohol and that was something you would have known.”

While found guilty of raping the girl, Dibi was found not guilty of orally raping her.

Dibi had previous convictions for drugs and violence but it is not believed he had past convictions for sex assaults.

As well as sentencing Dibi, who moved to Britain in 1998, to six years in prison, Judge Devaux said he would be deported after his release.

He added: “It is not in the public interest that you remain in the country for one day longer than you have to once you have served the sentence.”