OSWALD Cumberbatch, 23, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, was Wednesday sentenced to two years jail for robbery with violence after pleading guilty to the charge.

Cumberbatch appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and told the court that he was led into temptation.

Cumberbatch confessed that on July 2, 2019, at Croal Street, Georgetown, while using personal violence, he robbed Al-Ansar Abdool of a cellphone valued at $120,000 along with a case worth $ 2,000.

According to Prosecutor Ceon Blackman, about 08:00hrs on the day in question, Abdool was walking along the Route 40 mini-bus park on Croal Street. It was then that he was confronted by Cumberbatch, who reportedly held onto him and threw him to the ground.

Cumberbatch then relieved Abdool of the afore-mentioned articles and attempted to escape. However, Abdool gave chase, apprehended Cumberbatch and held him until the police arrived. A police search of Cumberbatch’s person resulted in Abdool’s phone being found in his attacker’s pocket.

“I know that I’m wrong, please have lil sympathy on ya son,” Cumberbatch begged the magistrate. He explained that two weeks ago he lost his job at the fisheries and was now unemployed.

“Tomorrow is my daughter birthday, she turning one,” the defendant further explained that he carried out the robbery, because he needed the money and came out “looking fuh it.”
Prosecutor Blackman, however, reminded the Magistrate that Cumberbatch had several other alternatives, but chose the easy way out by committing a felony.

“He needs to seek another employment, he cannot go about attacking citizens! Robbery is an offence and not an employment,” Blackman told the court as he urged the magistrate to sentence Cumberbatch to send a strong message to others who might be similarly inclined.
“It was temptation,” Cumberbatch pleaded with the magistrate, as he reminded her about his daughter.

“Lead me not into temptation,” the magistrate firmly reminded him about the verse in the bible.

Magistrate McGusty sentenced him to two years imprisonment and urged him to use his time behind bars to learn a trade, so that when he comes out of prison he would be able to get a good job.