Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
A man from Arima has been sentenced to almost 12 years in prison for robbing and sexually assaulting a woman over a decade ago.
Delano Robertson, from Malabar, Arima, received the sentence from High Court Judge Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo yesterday, after pleading guilty to abduction of a female, grievous sexual assault and robbery with violence.
Robertson is expected to complete the sentence in less than a month, as the time he spent on remand before entering the guilty pleas was deducted from his sentence.
Even when he completes the sentence, Robertson may not be immediately released, as he has similar pending charges over a separate incident involving another victim.
Robertson was accused of attacking the woman on April 5, 2014.
The woman was walking on a pavement in Arima when she was approached by Robertson.
He spoke briefly with her before he grabbed her from behind and placed something over her mouth.
He dragged her into an apartment building and assaulted her.
The attack ended when the victim managed to kick him.
Robertson took her two cellphones and ran away.
The victim made a report to the police and Robertson was arrested later that day.
In deciding on the appropriate sentences for Robertson, Justice Waterman-Latchoo began with starting points of 19 years for grievous sexual assault, 14 years for robbery, and 10 years for abduction.
She then granted minor reductions based on the fact that Robertson had a clean disciplinary record in prison and participated in rehabilitation programmes. She also applied a one-third discount for his guilty pleas and deducted the time he served on remand.
She ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning that he has already completed his sentence for robbery and abduction.
In passing the sentence, Justice Waterman-Latchoo encouraged Robertson to complete the drug treatment programme he twice enrolled in but failed to complete while on remand.
“When he returns to the free world, he has to show maturity and self-awareness to avoid certain behaviour that led to his downfall or detriment. Abuse of substances is not going to do him any good,” Justice Waterman-Latchoo said.
She also advised him to introspect and consider the traumatic effect of the attack on the victim.
“He must be able to look outside himself and appreciate the effect of his actions on another human being,” she said.
She also expressed hope that Robertson could be successfully reintegrated into society, as she noted that he had training and experience in food preparation and nutrition.
As part of his sentence, Robertson was ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release and report to his nearest police station every three months for 15 years.
Justice Waterman-Latchoo also ordered that details of his conviction be published on the public sex offender website.
Robertson was represented by Krysan Rambert, while Dylan Martin and Melissa Sookram represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
