A former political candidate for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, was sentenced to prison following his conviction on two counts arising from incidents committed between March 1^st and March 31^st 2020.

On September 9^th 2026, the High Court of St. Kitts and Nevis, presided over by His Lordship Justice Patrick Thompson Jr., sentenced Dr. Vance Gilbert of St. Kitts.

Dr Gilbert, who is also a medical practitioner, was found guilty on May 27^th 2026, following a trial that took place between May 7^th and May 12^th 2026. His Lordship delivered the following sentences:

For the offence of Rape: Twelve (12) years and six (6) months’ imprisonment and for the offence of Indecent Assault: Five (5) years’ imprisonment.

Both sentences are to run concurrently, making the effective custodial sentence twelve (12) years and six (6) months’ imprisonment at His Majesty’s Prison.

His Lordship additionally ordered a compensation payment of EC nine thousand dollars (EC $9,000) to the virtual complainant, payable in two equal instalments of four thousand five hundred dollars (XCD $4,500); the first payable by December 31^st 2026, and the second by December 31^st 2027. Failure to pay either instalment will result in an additional six (6) months’ imprisonment to run consecutively with the existing sentence.