A man in his late 20s has been convicted of aggravated robbery and larceny in the High Court.
Appearing before Justice Tunde Bakre on Wednesday, Trion George was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, with time already spent on remand to be taken into account.
The court heard that on January 5, 2023, then 27-year-old George entered Ceco Pharmacy where he stole a money bag containing $80 in one-dollar coins and an additional $20 from the cash register.
As he fled, an on-duty security officer gave chase, pursuing George to the East Bus Station.
There, George pulled a knife on the guard, demanding he empty his pocket, and out of fear, the guard threw down his wallet, which held US$100 and EC$55.
George was later apprehended and taken into police custody.
During the investigation, he was brought back to the pharmacy where CCTV footage showed him committing the theft and he admitted to the crime.
On June 31, 2024, George pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment, and larceny, with a maximum of three years.
Prior to sentencing, he asked the court for leniency, admitting he was wrong in his actions.
In determining the sentence, Justice Bakre weighed several factors, including the use of a knife, the prevalence of such offences, and the crime occurring in a public place.
Mitigating factors were George’s lack of prior convictions, his cooperation with police, and the apparently unplanned nature of the crime.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered George to pay $100 in compensation to Ceco Pharmacy.
His guilty plea earned him an automatic one-third reduction in his sentence based on guidelines.
