Teen Sentenced For Imitation Firearm Robbery Of George Town Jewelry Store

By Alric Lindsay

A 19-year-old man was before the Grand Court today, July 13, 2026, over the armed robbery of a jewelry store in central George Town, in which glass display cabinets were smashed with a hammer, and the store owner was confronted by what turned out to be an imitation firearm.

Brevon Sincere Watson faced two counts on Indictments 129 and 130 of 2025: robbery, contrary to the Penal Code, which Justice Richards noted carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; and possession of an imitation firearm, contrary to the Firearms Act.

What happened

According to the facts read in court, shortly after 3:00pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Watson rode a bicycle to Caribbean Jewellers, a jewelry store in central George Town, near the waterfront. Wearing a yellow high-visibility construction vest, Watson entered the store holding what appeared to be a firearm in one hand and a hammer in the other.  Watson smashed his way into glass cabinets containing jewelry.

The store owner confronted Watson, who struck him. The owner sustained a deep cut to his hand and other injuries. Watson fled on foot, leaving the bicycle behind; the owner gave chase and Watson was apprehended by police a short distance away. A hammer and a black imitation (toy) pistol were recovered from the scene.

The victim

Reportedly, in a victim impact statement, the store owner described a frightening experience that had left a lasting effect on his life, saying he had feared for his life and that of his family. He spoke of continuing anxiety, physical injury, and financial loss — damage to display cases, lost stock and disruption to his business and distress caused by encountering anyone with a similar appearance.

Mitigation and antecedents

The court heard from a social inquiry / probation report that Watson was assessed as a low risk of reoffending and was said to have expressed genuine remorse and a willingness to engage in therapy and treatment while in custody.

The report indicated that the offence was driven by debt and that Watson said he had been pressured to carry out the robbery, having been provided with the bicycle and directed to the store. A number of character references described him as a kind, caring young man, protective of his siblings and capable of rehabilitation.

The sentence

Turning to sentencing, Justice Richards said that Crown counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions placed the robbery in category 2A under the sentencing guidelines and pointed to aggravating features, while accepting that Watson was entitled to credit for his guilty plea.

Justice Richards added that defence counsel emphasised in mitigation that the imitation firearm was incapable of being discharged; that the violence was not a separate, gratuitous act; that Watson was arrested close to the scene; that the offence was not sophisticated; that he had no relevant previous convictions; and that he had shown genuine remorse and accepted responsibility, meriting up to one-third credit for his plea.

After analysing the submissions from counsels, Justice Richards outlined the sentence as follows:

Since the sentences will run simultaneously, the total time Watson will spend in prison is 67 months or approximately 5.6 years.