An 18-month prison sentence was yesterday meted out to a robber who claimed he snatched a woman’s chain to make “fast-money” to feed his three children.
Appearing before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Ron Roland, 25, said he knew his actions were wrong but he felt he had no alternative, since he was left to care for the children on his own after their mother walked out on him.
Roland was charged with robbing Ayesha Kendall on June 26, 2012, of a gold chain valued $75,000.
The court heard that at about 5:30pm on the day of the robbery, Kendall was attempting to board a route 42 minibus at Stabroek Market and she was accosted by Roland, who snatched her chain. His escape bid was, however, subsequently foiled when public-spirited citizens and a policeman apprehended him after an alarm was raised by Kendall.
When apprehended, the prosecutor said that the chain was stashed between the defendant’s legs from where it later fell. The prosecution asked for the maximum sentence of three years for Roland, noting the seriousness of the offence as well as the frequency with which such offences are committed around the Stabroek Market area.
Roland told the court that he did not want to rob Kendall but felt as if “something evil” overpowered him. He admitted that he followed the unsuspecting woman around for about an hour as he was conflicted about committing the robbery.
He said that his need for “fast money,” owing to his being the sole custodian of his three children, whose ages range between three and five, was the deciding factor. He said the woman left him after he returned from working in the “bush” with only $45,000.
During the hearing, Roland requested and was granted the court’s permission to address Kendall, whom he informed of his surveillance of her before the robbery. As the man recounted her activities prior to the robbery, the visibly shaken woman expressed shock at hearing how long she had been watched. “Why didn’t you just come and ask me for something to eat or something,” the soft-spoken woman enquired from Roland, who repeatedly said he was sorry for what he had done to her.
Kendall said that the entire ordeal had her shaken and still traumatised. The woman requested that her chain be returned to her so that she could move on with her life and put the issue to rest. It was at this point that the defendant told the court he really wanted to “change my life around,” including baptism and attending church for deliverance.
Magistrate Wilson told Roland that he would be given that chance when sent to prison. “You will get a chance to deal with your demons, go to church and be baptised right there,” he advised.
The magistrate soundly warned the defendant to change his deeds and he noted that a second chance is not always given.
As a result of his impending stint in jail, Roland said that his children would be left with his grandmother, causing the magistrate to lament the tremendous burden that grandmothers are called upon to bear. He told Roland that he should pray for his grandmother to live a long, healthy life.
As he was being escorted from the courtroom, Roland was begging Kendall to “say something for me.” To that, she calmly responded, “The magistrate has pronounced.”
