Man jailed for 18 months over impulsive robbery
(CNS): Okia Rainel Porter (23) has been sentenced to just 18 months in jail, having pleaded guilty in February to a robbery at a grocery store in West Bay late last year. The Jamaican national, who was unarmed, entered the 4-Way 24-hour convenience store on the evening of 19 November with the assistance of friends, wearing an animal mask. He stole less than $480 in cash.
After entering the store, Porter went behind the cashier and opened the register to serve one of the fellow conspirators. Following a scuffle between the men, Porter grabbed the cash pan and its connected tablet. But the cashier had locked the door, preventing the robber’s escape. Porter then used the metal pan to smash at the door until the cashier released the lock. However, as he was smashing at the door, his mask fell to the floor, revealing his face on CCTV.
Police were able to retrieve the mask when they arrived at the scene and test it for DNA, which was later confirmed as a match for Porter. On the same night as the robbery, the police found Porter in a car on Fort Street, George Town. He was arrested and later charged.
The court heard that this appeared to be a poorly planned, impulsive robbery and out of character for Porter, who has no previous criminal convictions and has since shown remorse over the offence. However, he has admitted abusing drugs and believes he is addicted to Ecstasy. Porter, a father of a three-year-old boy who lives in Jamaica, has been on a work permit in the Cayman Islands since 2019.
The defendant was said to have expressed empathy for the victim and stated that he takes responsibility for his actions. He was assessed by the probation service as being at low risk of re-offending, even though he appears to have drug and alcohol problems.
The court also heard that the manager of the store had said the cashier had been traumatised and had quit the job shortly after the robbery as a result. The manager also reported being stressed and nervous over the possibility of further robberies, as this store has been hit by robbers seven times since it opened.
Although Justice Cheryll Richards asked for compensation of over $1,700 for the cash and goods stolen and for damage to the store, she also found that the crime was serious enough to warrant jail time and therefore could not order compensation because Porter would not be able to pay.
The judge accepted that the offending was on impulse without significant planning and the lowest level of robbery, with no weapon involved. Porter will be unable to see his family during his incarceration and will not be granted any further permits to work in the Cayman Islands.
Taking all of the mitigating and aggravating factors into consideration, as well as Porter’s guilty plea, Justice Richards arrived at a custodial sentence of 18 months with time served to be taken into consideration.
- Fascinated
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What happened with the co-conspirators?
“impulsive robbery”, or as it is otherwise known, “robbery”. Doesn’t make a bit of difference if it was premeditated or not. He did the deed, and should get the appropriate punishment.
I must file that away, though, just in case my future impulsive actions result in incarceration. “I swear, it just happened. I didn’t plan it.”
The devil made me do it will be more effective.
They leave Jamaica for their own safety & for better opportunities but come here & commit crime. When Cayman gets as bad as Jamaica I wonder where they will run to next?
More to the point, where will WE have to run to after the Jamaicans and political hangers on finally turn us into another Jamaica..?
West Bay is very welcoming.
Just brand his forehead with a big R for robber, increase his sentence to 10 years to be served double if he ever sets foot in Cayman again and kick him out of the country as a persona non grata in the immigration system.
No deportation order?
FFS!!!!!
who in the private sector employees these people. no wonder there are so many civil servants.
Construction companies…
For ‘no previous convictions’, you can guarantee it just means, ‘first time caught’.
There’s no way a man gets to 23 and finally caves in to his intrusive thoughts to just do a robbery, without some previous expertise in nefarious arts.
Ecstasy not Extasy. But the effects are the same. Stupidity.
CNS: Thanks. Corrected now.
Sorry but this is still a violent incident. Should be subject to a mandatory ten years. Judicial leniency towards criminal miscreants is ruining Cayman.
I disagree. Why should we have to pay for his food, housing, health care, etc for 10 years. Send him back after the 18 months (with time served).
Watch this space – he will apply for and be granted conjugal visits while in Northward which will allow him to father a child which will in turn allow him to apply for PR and status and various government handouts immediately following his 2 – 3 month in Northward.
…and his buddies that assisted? Work permits already renewed?
He cannot apply PR as he have criminal record and he will be force to leave cayman island and no one will hire him.
Not so – non-Caymanian convicted criminals who manage to have a child with a Caymanian regularly claim ‘right to family life’ and are granted leave to remain permanently.
That is NOT how it works.
When the work slows for all these Jamaicans we have here which many are now permanent residents and status holders the Cayman Islands will learn first hand why Jamaica is one of the crime capitals of the world.
Look forward to him being here for 10 years without a permit once the inevitable failure of our CIG Departments to coordinate their activities takes place.
9:38 Rubbish. Prison will hand him over to CBC for a swift ride to Jamaica. Although someone in the private sector may try to marry him.
His employer should have picked up on his drug habit and cancelled his work permit.
By the way Jamaica had a mass shooting this weekend. 8 dead including children.
Bullshit. Prison releases them early, and cannot tell who is Caymanian from not, anyway. CBC waits for paperwork. No one does anything. If the prosecution had asked for a deportation order, and the court made one, it would be different. But that is not what happened.
And so what if a local marries him? That does not give any right to stay (if our laws are followed).
How do you think we have 10-year overstayers? That can only happen if CBC/Immigration are not doing their job.