Launtia Cuff, Star Writer

An 18-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to one year imprisonment at hard labour when he appeared in the Balaclava Resident Magistrate's Court for robbery with aggravation.

On December 2, about 5:40 p.m., a sixth-form female student was walking from school with a friend. While walking with her phone in hand, Morgan came up and grabbed on to the phone. A struggle developed and he pulled a knife and held it to the student's side and took the phone.

She went to the police station to report the matter. While there, the police arrived with Odane Morgan, who she identified as the person who had taken her phone.

Upon searching Morgan, who is from St Ann, the phone and the knife were recovered. Morgan was subsequently charged and brought before the court. He pleaded guilty.

When he returned to court for sentencing yesterday, it was revealed that, based on the social enquiry report that had been ordered, the community feedback was poor.

At the time of the offence, Morgan had been on an 18-month sentence from April, 2014, which was suspended for three years. That matter had been handled in St Ann and will be sent there for the St Ann courts to determine what action will be taken against him.