Observing that a neighbour is supposed to protect children in the absence of their parents, a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act court recently convicted and sentenced a 47-year-old hairstylist to three years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl whose family was out at work.

Relying on the deposition of the child and other witnesses, the court said, “The entire evidence is duly corroborated by her grandmother and her cousin. Both of them have deposed as regards to the part played by them. The girl’s cousin is the witness who had called the grandmother immediately after seeing the accused in their room and hearing about the act of the accused,” the court said, as per a report in The Times of India.