Convicted rapist Nicholas Ninow has read out a poem he wrote for his seven-year-old victim as he appealed for leniency during a sentencing hearing in a court in South Africa. The 21-year-old was convicted last month after he was caught naked in 2018 with the child in the female toilets of a popular Pretoria restaurant. In the poem he said: "She may never forgive, nor even forget." Ninow detailed his history of drug use and apologised to his victim and her family. The accused admitted he had been on a three-day drug binge and that he did not care about the consequences of his actions at the time of the attack. He also disputed the court’s finding that the rape was premeditated but later admitted to flushing the child's underwear down the toilet to get rid of evidence. He was found guilty of rape, drug abuse and defeating the ends of justice, and faces a lengthy jail term. The prosecution argued against his plea explanation and urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence, EWN news reports. He is expected to be sentenced later this week.