Nine months' suspended, for three years, was the sentence handed to two young men in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, for robbing a woman of her handbag.

The accused, David Moore and Daniel Gooden, were charged with robbery with aggravation, narrowly escaping imprisonment.

They were told by Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey that if they committed any crimes, within the next three years, they would serve a prison term of nine months.

The Crown alleged that, on May 6, about 9:30 p.m., the female complainant was walking along Half-Way Tree Road when she was pounced on by both accused, who robbed her of her handbag, valued at $2,500. The bag contained perfume, body cream, a Scotiabank debit card, a cell phone, charger and cash $1,250.

Apprehended

The items are said to be valued at $8,000.

The men ran after stealing the bag but were apprehended by the police.

The handbag was recovered.

In court, both men begged the senior resident magistrate not to send them to prison. They claimed they had robbed the woman because their cart was seized by the police in downtown, Kingston.