A FATHER of three was sentenced on Monday to 50 months imprisonment by Magistrate Judy Latchman after he pleaded guilty to a simple larceny charge.

The charge alleged that on July 06, 2018 at Brickdam, Georgetown, while being in the company of others Kevin Persaud robbed Ryan Dari of one cellphone valued $5,000, one silver chain valued $1,000 and $ 500 cash.

The 29-year-old construction worker pleaded guilty to the charge as it was read out to him in the court by the Magistrate.

According to facts that were given in court by the police prosecutor, the virtual complainant was on his way home seated in the front seat of a #42 minibus when he was approached by the accused and others. He was told not to move and as such he didn’t because he was fearful for his life. As a result the accused and his accomplices robbed him of his valuables and made their escape. A report was made to the police and an investigation was carried out. The accused was arrested with one of the items in his possession and he was positively identified.

Before the sentence was handed down, Persaud told the court he did it because he was frustrated that he wasn’t getting any work and he had to feed his children. He explained that times were hard and no one knew what he had to go through.

After listening to him Magistrate Latchman took into consideration that he had entered an early guilty plea and that he was also convicted of a similar offence two years ago for which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Also the sentence was to serve as a deterrent prohibiting others from doing as he had done.

After the sentence was handed down, she told him: “Thou shall not steal. People work hard for their things.”