OTTAWA — One of two teenagers who stole a specially-equipped iPhone from a blind University of Ottawa student has been sentenced to a combination of five months of open custody in a group-home like setting and community supervision.
Before sentencing the 17-year-old Monday, Ontario Court Justice Jean Legault chastised the teen in French for taking advantage of vulnerable victim Victoria Francis in a public place where she should expect to feel safe.
On Nov. 25, Francis, 25, was sitting near the emergency exit doors in the University Centre cafeteria when she took her phone out of her purse to send a message. About two minutes later, someone ran to her right side, pulled her hair and grabbed the phone from her hands.
Francis, a fourth year psychology student, used the phone to send text messages. It was equipped with special software that allowed her to hear what was written on the screen.
On Monday, assistant Crown attorney Julien Lalande escorted Francis from her seat in the front row of the courtroom so she could stand in front of Legault. The robbery has left her fearful of using her phone in public and significantly impacted her life, according to the Crown.
Francis has since had the phone replaced by three Rogers employees who used their Christmas bonuses to buy her a brand new iPhone 4.
The teen, who has been in jail since early December, pleaded guilty to robbery. He also admitted to several other charges, including another unrelated attempted robbery, a break-and-enter and possession of stolen property.
Court heard the Somalian teen, who came to Canada in 2008, has 16 criminal convictions, including his guilty pleas on Monday.
His 16-year-old accomplice, who was the one who pulled Francis’s hair and took the phone from her hand, was sentenced in January to a year in open custody after being credited with 78 days in jail.
Lalande asked Legault to sentence the 17-year-old to a further three to six months in jail, while his lawyer asked for an additional 30 to 45 days of open custody.