By Melville Harris, STAR Writer

A 69-year-old father on June 22 pleaded guilty to the charge of incest when he appeared in the St. Elizabeth Circuit Court yesterday.

The father, who is from the parish, pleaded guilty before Justice Donald McIntosh.

The court was told that in 2001, the accused, who was living with his 13-year-old daughter then, had sexually molested her resulting in her becoming pregnant.

The pregnancy has led to the birth of a male child who will be six in November.

The father was arrested and charged in 2001 following reports made to the police. When he first appeared in court in 2001, he was offered bail but then absconded and eluded the St. Elizabeth police for more than 18 months. He was subsequently recaptured in 2003 during a sting operation carried out in his community.

In court, the accused continuously argued that he was innocent of the charge, however, when a DNA report was presented and read which stated that he was the father of his daughter's six-year-old son, he pleaded guilty to the charge.

High Court judge Justice Donald McIntosh then remanded him to report to the St. Elizabeth Circuit Court on July 6, at which time he will be sentenced.

In the meantime, the court has also ordered that a social enquiry report be done in time for his sentencing. The six-year-old child remains in a place of safety.