7 years jail for Grove Supermarket bandit

One of the three bandits who was recently caught red-handed robbing a supermarket at Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) today pleaded guilty to charges of robbery under arms and possession of an illegal firearm.

Ryan Bannister, 27, of Herstelling Seadam, EBD was sentenced to seven years in prison following his guilty pleas.

Bannister along with Gerald DaSilva, 45, and Ron Simons, 33, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

They were jointly charged with robbery under arms. DaSilva and Simons pleaded not guilty and were remanded until August 14, 2018.

Bannister was charged separately with the possession of firearm and ammunition without a licence.

Two days ago, the men were arrested by police as they were raiding the Number One Supermarket located at Grove Public Road, EBD.

The men attacked and tied up the lone security guard with his own shoelace. The security guard, however, managed to break free and alerted neighbours who contacted the Grove Police Station.

Ranks responded prompted and caught the men in the act. They also retrieved CCTV footage which captured the attempted robbery.