After only recently completing a prison sentence, Michael Whyte is back behind bars after admitting that he robbed and assaulted a Russian tourist.
Whyte, 43, changed his mind several times before finally settling on a guilty plea on Wednesday, when he appeared before city magistrate Fabayo Azore.
He admitted that he robbed the tourist of a gold chain, valued at US$500, which is equivalent to GY$100,000, and used personal violence during the course of the attack.
According to the facts presented by the prosecution, on March 5, the Russian national was making his last visit as a tourist around Georgetown when Whyte approached him and snatched the chain from his neck.
It was further alleged that when the tourist turned around and looked at Whyte, he dealt the man several cuffs, resulting in him falling to the ground.
A report was made to the Brickdam Police Station and Whyte was held. A search was conducted on his person and the chain was subsequently retrieved from Whyte’s mouth.
When Magistrate Azore asked Whyte if he had any previous convictions, he stated that he was recently released from prison after serving a 30 month sentence for breaking and entering.
In addition to that, Whyte was convicted in 2012 after pleading guilty to smuggling 60 packs of cigarettes into the Camp Street jail, which resulted in him spending three months in jail.
Whyte was subsequently sentenced to 24 months in prison.
