Armed robbers to jail for a long time

PHILIPSBURG – The court in first Instance sentenced two armed robbers to respectively 7 and 8 years of imprisonment on Wednesday. The men had robed several supermarkets in March of this year, capturing altogether around $1,250 in cash, phones and topup cards.

Clifford Nathaniel Noel, 23, was sentenced to 8 years; he also has to serve the conditional part of a previous sentence (157 days). Shyiem Juirhon Capleton Simmonds, 21, has to serve 7 years.

Noel robbed the Ahui supermarket on Illidge Road on March 17, whereby he took $400 and several topup cards. On March 19 he hit the Wing Da supermarket located at Nazareth Road for an amount between $200 and $250 and again several topup cards.

On March 28, Noel returned to the Wing Da supermarket; this time he took $300 and several topup cards. And on March 12 he attempted to rob the Carrefour supermarket in Cole Bay.

Noel used a firearm to threaten his victims. The prosecution therefore also charged him with firearm possession.

Simmonds robbed the Victory Mini market in Madame Estate on March 28; he took $300, an iPhone, a wallet, a credit card and several topup cards. The same day he robbed the Ahui supermarket on Illidge Road of $300 and several topup cards. Later that day he visited the Wing Da supermarket where he took $200 and several topup cards.

Simmonds also used a firearm to threaten his victims.

The court ruled that Simmonds committed three armed robberies in a short period of time. When he was arrested he wore different clothing than the robber that was recorded on video. “It is usual that robbers discard their double clothing to prevent recognition,” the court noted. The plaintiffs recognized Noel as a packer boy working at Sunny Foods.