TWENTY-two-year-old Anthony Williams (no address stated) was yesterday sentenced to 56 months imprisonment for robbery with personal violence although his loot turned out to be imitation jewellery.

He was found guilty as charged for the offence that said on August 26 at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, he robbed Charles Allen of one artificial gold chain valued $1,500 and sometime during, before or after, he made use of personal violence to the said virtual complainant (VC).

He made his first appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman and was refused bail after he pleaded not guilty. The matter was then transferred before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for September 16 and was subsequently assigned to Magistrate Latchman for trial.
On his first appearance before Magistrate Latchman, Williams told the court that the entire incident was a joke. He went on to say that he and the VC are known to each other, they operated a minibus together and he would usually buy items from the VC.
The matter was prosecuted by Police inspector Joel Ricknauth and three witnesses were called on behalf of the prosecution to testify, two of whom were police witnesses and one was the VC.
In mitigation, the unrepresented man told the court that he is a father of two and works in the interior.
The prosecution stated that on the day in question Williams choked Allen from behind and took the chain away from.
In his oral statement, he said he was making a joke and in his unsworn statement he offered to compensate the victim.
The court also heard that Williams was on bail for a robbery matter before Magistrate Fabayo Azore but the virtual complainant in that matter never attended court.