Chain grabbers get nine months at hard labour

Parish Court Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague has expressed concern about the number of cases of robbery with aggravation coming before her. She made the remarks just before sentencing two men, 19-year-old Marcus Robinson, and 21-year-old Clive Hines, to nine months imprisonment at hard labour.

For Robinson, it was not his first time being convicted of such an offence, having been sentenced to five months imprisonment in 2019. Hines has no previous conviction. Both men attacked and robbed a man of his gold chain while walking in downtown Kingston.

"I don't like this kind of offence - robbery with aggravation. It is not only the loss of property, but there is a mental effect that follows from it. When you pick somebody gold chain when they are walking up the road, there are some persons who say they are never going to wear a gold chain again. There are some who say I wi never go downtown again because that's where I got robbed," she stressed.

She added that some items stolen are of sentimental value, similar to the gold chain in this case which the complainant said was a gift from his mother.

The judge emphasised that too many cases of robbery occur in Jamaica and that sentences handed down should be a deterrent to the act.

"People must know that when you thief a gold chain, when you come to 144 Maxfield Avenue, you will not have judges pet and powder you and say 'Okay, go be a good boy' and that's it. That will not happen."

Robinson and Hines have spent three months in custody. The judge said they received discount on their sentences because they pleaded guilty.