[2025] EWCA Crim 1113

The offender was charged with two offences. One, count 4, was an allegation that he incited F to engage in sexual activity by kissing him on the mouth when she was a child. Count 5 was the allegation with which we are directly concerned.

The day after the jury was empanelled but before the substantive trial had got underway, the offender was rearraigned on count 5 and pleaded guilty to that offence. He maintained his plea of not guilty to count 4 and was in due course acquitted of that offence by the jury.

The co-defendants were convicted on multiple counts, involving multiple rapes of both V and F. Mr Houphouet was sentenced to a total of 20 years and Mr Sigiyo to a total of 18 years 6 months' imprisonment.

The course of the trial meant that the judge had the opportunity to observe the offender throughout. When she came to sentence him, she had numerous sources of information.