Apr 24 - Handbag Snatcher Jailed For Eight Months
A 38-year-old man who robbed a handbag from a woman after spotting her withdrawing money from an ATM machine was sentenced to eight months in prison today.
Emilio Jose Carravaca Macias, from Glacis Estate, pleaded guilty to the robbery which took place in the early hours in February earlier this year near Bayside School.
Carravaca Macias admitted to officers he had been drinking and taking cocaine and tablets and was with his brother when he forcibly stole the woman’s handbag which contained two mobile phones, €1,000 and £200 in cash and a cosmetics bag.
His defence laywer Suresh Mahtani said his client pleaded guilty to the charge at the earliest opportunity and had shown remorse. He added that the defendant had been with his brother that day who he claims has a “destructive influence” on him.
While sentencing, Puisne Judge Karen Ramagge Prescott said there were a number of aggravating factors in this case.
She said: “While the victim was not targeted due to her vulnerability, she was nevertheless targeted.”
Mrs Justice Ramagge Prescott added that the fact that the defendant saw her withdrawing cash from the ATM machine in Ocean Village, the time of the incident, the fact that he was under the influence of a cocktail of alcohol and drugs and that the cash, the two mobile phones and one credit card were never recovered were additional aggravating factors.
Carravaca Macias was sentenced to 12 months in prison but the sentence was reduced to eight months for entering an early guilty plea. Time served while on remand will also be discounted.
Robert Fischel QC appeared for the Crown.
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