A thief who apologized for pouncing on two women in Georgetown and grabbing a handbag containing valuables and cash along with two cellphones was yesterday jailed for 15 months after he admitted to the offence.
Clarence Thomas appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 11, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
On June 16, at High and D’Urban streets, Thomas robbed Osiana James of her handbag, containing cash and her cellphone, all amounting to a total value of $62,500.
He also robbed Deon Daley of her cellphone valued $24,000, on the same day.
According to Prosecutor Adduni Inniss, on the day in question at about 10:00 hrs, the complainants were walking on High Street and as they were approaching D’Urban Street, Thomas confronted them, grabbed the items mentioned in the charge and ran off.
An alarm was raised which captured the attention of a police patrol, the prosecutor said. A quick response by the police led to the capture of the culprit with the stolen items in his possession.
In response, Thomas apologized for committing the crime but he refused to give an explanation to the court as to why he committed the act.
However, he sought a lenient sentence, stating that he has two minor children to care for.
But the prosecutor disputed his claim, noting that in his statement to the police, he denied having any children.
Magistrate Singh, in handing down the sentence, informed the defendant that the maximum sentence for the offence is a five-year jail term. However, after considering that he had no criminal record, coupled with the fact that he pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time, she imposed lenient sentences.
Thomas was then sentenced to nine months in jail for robbing James and six months for robbing Daley. The sentences will run consecutively.
