DEVON Holder, previously implicated in similar crimes, was sentenced to a total of five years imprisonment on Monday, when he changed his plea in two cases.

Holder, 26, appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton and admitted that:

* on October 3, 2006, he stole a gold band valued $6,000 from Doreen

Baijnauth while she was walking along Water Street, and

* on August 15 last, he robbed Vaidanan Madray at knifepoint in Albouystown, another part of Georgetown, of jewellery, cell phones and money, making a total loss, of $244,000, to the victim.

For the former offence, the convict was jailed for two years and, for the latter, the magistrate ordered him to serve three years, consecutively.

Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, said the prisoner and others surrounded the virtual complainant and after Holder grabbed the jewel, he ran away but Police and public-spirited citizens captured him.

The Prosecutor said Holder, also known as Devon Alder (no address given) failed in his attempt to swallow the booty or conceal it in his underwear.