Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe on Thursday handed Ricardo Wright, 24, of Grants Pen, St. Andrew, a 25-year sentence for the May 2004 abduction and gang rape of a student.

In what was a clear case of sending a strong message, Justice Wolfe described the rape case as "one of the most heinous" he had presided over in his years on the bench.

Allegations are that the victim was abducted in front of an entertainment venue and taken to a house in Grants Pen, where she was gang-raped by 10 men.

After the all-night ordeal, the victim was released and placed aboard a motorcycle leaving the community.

Days later, during forensic reconstruction with private detective Jason McKay, the house where the victim was raped was located. Wright was spotted in the vicinity and the Half-Way Tree police summoned.

Another man, who was allegedly present at the house on the night of the crime, was held along with Wright but was acquitted due to a lack of identification.

A .38 revolver was also found during the operation.

The student was one of 10 women abducted, gang-raped and released in a similar manner over a 14-day period in May 2004.

Police said the spate of abductions ended after Wright and the other accused person was held.

The detention of Wright and the other suspect sparked a big demonstration in Grants' Pen as citizens claimed the investigator and police had set the house ablaze before removing the suspects.