Robber sent back to prison seven months after release

A Corporate Area man who was released from a penal institution last July is headed back to prison as he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labour on Tuesday.

The defendant, Rodney Smith, refused the opportunity to do his own plea mitigation as he stood before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque to be sentenced for robbery with aggravation.

"You can go ahead," Smith said, before the judge imposed her sentence. It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that the complainant parked her motor vehicle at her home to get dressed for work, which is located at an adjoining property. The complainant saw Smith approaching her, who then grabbed her and took out a knife, demanding her cell phone. The complainant fell to the ground, and Smith grabbed her Samsung cell phone valued at $160,000. Surveillance footage of the incident was reviewed and Smith's father identified him, assisting the police in locating him.

"Do you have any previous convictions? You look quite familiar," the senior jurist said.

"Yes, for robbery aggravation. Me spend like 10 months and you send me away last time," Smith responded.

Judge Cole-Montaque imposed the sentence and warned the defendant not to return to court.

"Don't let me see you again this way," she said, as Smith was carted off from the courtroom in handcuffs.