A MAN WHO claimed he stole a woman's cellphone because he had none was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at hard labour for his actions.
Jason Richards of a Kingston address pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravation when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Allegations against Richards are that on November 1, the complainant was walking her daughter to Rose Dale Basic school when she saw the accused who said, "hey gal, come here".
Reports are that the complainant ignored Richards and continued to walk. The accused then rode up behind her on his bicycle. He rode around her, dropped the bicycle and said "hey gal yuh nuh hear mi a call yuh." The court heard that he then walked towards her with a knife, grabbed her in her chest and said "gimmie yuh phone". Richards then grabbed the phone, jumped on his bicycle and rode away.
On Tuesday November 8, at 4:00 p.m. the complainant was walking along Eastwood Park Road when, upon reaching the bus stop she saw the accused showing the phone he had stolen from her. The complainant sought the help of four policemen she saw directing traffic. She told them what happened and they agreed to accompany her to the bus stop where she pointed out the accused.
It is reported that the police took the accused to the Half Way Tree Police Station where he was interrogated about the phone and later charged with robbery with aggravation.
When asked by Presiding Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle why he stole the phone, Richards told the court that "I need a phone your honour."
Richards said however that he had not done all the things he was accused of doing. "Your honour I never pull any knife on her I just tek the phone out of her hand," he told the court.
However RM Gayle told Richards he could not be let off with a light sentence. "You will have to go to prison for a while, 12 months," RM Gayle told the accused in handing down his sentence.
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