A FATHER of seven who was charged with armed robbery since 2006 was, on Monday, sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by City Magistrate Dylan Bess after a probation report.
Phillip DePaul, 38 years, of East La Penitence was charged with armed robbery on November 6, 2006 at Georgetown when being armed with a gun he robbed Ceon Small of $26,000 cash, a $47,000 Motorola Razr cellphone and a quantity of gold jewellery, a total value of $873,000.
The father of seven was also charged with the abduction of Small, and that matter was recently committed to the High Court.
However, according to the probation report, which was read in the court on Monday, DePaul lived with his parents and was not known to be a violent character in his community.
The charge of robbery had attracted a negative stigma, making it hard for him to obtain a job.
The report further revealed that DePaul had pleaded with the court for mercy to give him an opportunity to prove himself to society.
Magistrate Bess, in his ruling, considered all the mitigating factors, including the fact that the accused is the father of seven, the findings of the probation report and his wish to reform himself.
However, the magistrate explained that the court could not ignore the commission of the offence and during imprisonment he could utilise the time to reform himself.

By Clestine Juan