Jamaican Police.Com

Horace Roberts, a Police Constable who was said to be the head of a major criminal enterprise which targeted scores of returning residents and visitors by holding them up and robbing them at gunpoint, was yesterday sentenced to a total of 191 years in prison. He was sentenced on 20 counts of robbery with aggravation, and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and given a total of 191 years, however the sentences are to run concurrently, so he will spend approximately 12 years in prison.

Roberts, who was assigned to the Mandeville Police Station in Manchester, was convicted along with cronies Robert Hurd and Richard Ewart, after they were arrested and charged in 2005 by members of the Flying Squad, led by Deputy Superintendent Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford. Hurd and Ewart were each sentenced to ten years in prison.

Government prosecutors had led evidence that between May and October 2005, Constable Roberts led his cronies on a series of armed robberies against Jamaicans who were returning from overseas to resettle in Jamaica. They reportedly stole millions of dollars worth of goods from the returning residents in St. Thomas, Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, by trailing them from the Norman Manley International Airport and robbing them at gunpoint at their gates. More than 30 witnesses, most of them returning residents, gave testimony at the lengthy trial.

Roberts, Hurd and Ewart were arrested near the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after the car in which they were travelling was intercepted on the Palisadoes Road in October 2005. The car was searched and two firearms, a Glock nine millimetre and a .38 revolver; as well as stolen articles and foreign currencies were found. The houses of the men were also searched and several items including suitcases found. A large quantity of ammunition was also seized at Constable Roberts’ house.

Tags : bigga ford, Horace Roberts, Richard Ewart, Robbery, Robert Hurd