Septic tank robber jailed for six years

A Blue Berry Hill man was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Wednesday, after he confessed to committing an armed robbery on three Banks DIH employees.

Sean Hopkinson, 27, was charged with two counts of armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition without license. Two of the charges were indictable.

At the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Ann McLennan heard that Hopkinson, armed with a .38 revolver, held-up and robbed three employees of Banks DIH Ltd on Tuesday, at the Wisroc Housing Scheme. Hopkinson, according to the charges, robbed Kevon Newland of $35,360, which was the property of Banks DIH; and Terrence George of $15,100, also the property of Banks DIH. George was also robbed of $1,440 personal cash.

According to the facts of the case, at the time of the robbery the men were delivering supplies to a customer. Hopkinson had approached them under the pretext of making a purchase. He then brandished the gun, robbed them and escaped into the housing development. Trapped, he then hid in an incomplete septic tank but later surrendered.

When the magistrate asked him if he had anything to say in his defence, Hopkinson asked that his sentences not run concurrently.

He was then sentenced to three years each for the weapons possession charges and three years each for the armed robbery charges. The sentences would run concurrently.