Construction worker jailed for knifepoint robbery of policewoman

Videsh Persaud, a 23-year-old construction worker of Affiance, Essequibo Coast and of Bell West Village, Canal No. 1, West Bank Demerara, was on Tuesday arraigned in the Georgetown court of Senior Magistrate Fabyo Azore on a charge of robbery under arms committed on female police officer Abigail Valentine on Tuesday, April 29, at Quamina Street, Georgetown.

The charge Persaud faced detailed that, while armed with a knife, he robbed Valentine of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone valued at $35,500 and a purse valued at $7,500; all to the total value of $43,000.
Persaud admitted to committing the robbery on Valentine at knifepoint on Quamina Street in Georgetown while she was on her way to work, but told the magistrate that he had returned the stolen items to the victim.
However, according to Valentine’s account, the only reason Persaud had returned the items to her was because public-spirited citizens had come to her rescue and given chase, and he was apprehended shortly after the incident.
She further stated that he had become more cooperative when he realized she was a police officer.
Magistrate Azore considered Persaud’s early guilty plea, his lack of prior convictions, and the fact that the stolen items were returned as mitigating factors. Nonetheless, she cited the serious nature of the offence and the threat of violence posed by an offensive weapon in sentencing him to 18 months’ imprisonment.
Before the sentence was handed down, Persaud was given a chance to speak, and he apologized to the court and expressed remorse for his actions.