An Alex man was sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Alex Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to theft of a bicycle and other items belonging to another man.
Clarence Simmons, who acted with an accomplice, stole a bicycle, a wallet with R200, bank cards and a Blackberry cellphone from Mandla Mbenje, who was cycling in Kelvin on 3 June.
Simmons is said to have stopped and threatened Mbenje with a knife before Simmons’ friend searched the victim and took the items. After the robbery, Mbenje reported the incident to Alex police who were passing by and they arrested Simmons after a short chase. All the stolen items were recovered.
A legal expert said pleading guilty saved Simmons the usual 15-year sentence associated with most cases of armed robbery.
