After admitting to snatching a woman’s purse, a youth was yesterday sentenced to nine months in jail.
Michael English, 21, of Lot 44 Subryanville, Kitty, who was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, told the city court that he robbed the woman because he has a newborn to care for and also owes someone money.
English appeared before the Chief Magistrate for robbery with aggravation and five other offences.
It was alleged that English, who described himself as a puri maker, on February 21st, at Water Street, Georgetown, together with another, robbed Nasha Kumar of $171,500 and an iPhone, valued at $100,000.
English pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court that he snatched the woman’s bag, which contained the cash and the phone, and he ran up the road. “I only stop ’cause the city constab tell me stop,” he added.
City Constabulary Prosecutor James Goodman told the court that on the day in question, Kumar was at Water Street, in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, to purchase medicine for her mother when English snatched her purse, pushed her and ran away. Goodman noted that Kumar gave chase behind English, shouting “Thief! Thief!” As a result, a constabulary officer, who was on patrol duty in the area, intercepted him.
Goodman said Kumar identified English as the person who robbed her and he was subsequently taken to the City Constabulary headquarters, where a confrontation was held and he admitted to the crime. The items were found in his possession and identified by Kumar, the court also heard.
Asked by the magistrate why he took the bag, English stated that he had a baby that was born recently and also that he owed someone money.
Prior to sentencing him, Chief Magistrate McLennan told English that he must learn not to steal others’ possessions. He was then sentenced to nine months in jail.
Meanwhile, English also faced charges for assaulting two peace officers on February 21st, at Water Street, resisting arrest, behaving disorderly in the Investigations Section of the City Constabulary headquarters and damaging five louvre panes, valued $1,250, which is the property of the Mayor and City Council.
English pleaded not guilty to these charges. He told the court that he never assaulted the officers and that it was he who was assaulted and that the louvres broke because the officers threw him into them during the beating. He is expected to return to court on March 5th in relation to the five remaining charges.
