SINGAPORE, Feb. 11 -- A 25-year-old man was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane yesterday for statutory rape and sexual grooming, after he deceived a 13-year-old girl by posing as a 15-year-old online.

According to The Straits Times, the man, who cannot be named to protect his victims' identities, was 22 at the time of the offences in 2023.

He met the victim on Telegram in August 2023, claiming on his profile to be 15.

Despite the girl's repeated suspicions about his older appearance, he maintained the lie, saying "it was just in his genes" and falsely stating he was a student at the Singapore Sports School.

Over three months, from September to November 2023, he engaged in sexual acts with the victim almost week...