A TEENAGER was on Wednesday sentenced to a total of 33 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery at a supermarket.

Imran Khan, 19, told the court he robbed the businessplace after a man he owed money told him he had go with him to "put down a wuk".

The court heard that around 4 p.m. on March 3, five employees were at R&D Supermarket in Williamsville when Khan and another man entered and announced a hold-up.

Police prosecutor Sgt Cleyon Seedan said Khan demanded money from the cash register and was given $15,000. He also robbed another employee of $11,899 and four bottles of brandy totalling $1,000 and cigarettes valued $24,420. Khan stole the workers' jewelry, cellphones and cash.

"The defendant and the other person then escaped by driving away in a black Toyota Corolla," Seedan said.

The vehicle was later seen at a gas station and two men exited and ran when the police approached. Khan was held a short distance away.

Upon his arrest, a revolver and six rounds of ammunition were found in his trouser's waist and $3,826 in a pocket.

The owner of the stolen Corolla, who also lost his wallet with cash, identified Khan as being the one who robbed him.

The teenager was charged by officers Gadoo and Ramlogan of the Gasparillo Police Station.

Before the San Fernando First Court, defence attorney Kevin Ratiram said Khan lived in Phillipine with his parents and sister and was employed at the Penal/ Debe Regional Corporation as a labourer.

He said it was Khan's first time before the court and he had a medical condition that made him "susceptible to fainting spells."

Ratiram said none of the victims were injured during the robbery and some of the money was recovered. The rest of the cash, he said, was handed over to the occupant of another vehicle whose whereabouts was unknown to Khan.

"My client owed monies to (name called). He was unable to repay the monies to the individual and, as a consequence, (name called) told the defendant he had to assist him in putting down a wuk … He did agree voluntarily to participate in the robbery," Ratiram said.

He asked Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington to take into consideration Khan's age and to impose a non-custodial sentence on his client who could become a hardened criminal if he  was sent to prison.

He said Khan was apologetic to the victims and promised never to engage in similar activity.

But Wellington said a non-custodial sentence was asking much and imposing a fine was impracticable as he had left six people traumatised.

He told Khan that he faced a maximum sentence of ten years for the charges of robbery and five years on each charge of possession of the gun and ammunition.

Khan was sent to jail for four-and-a-half years for the six robbery offences and three years on the two gun-related charges.

The sentences are to run concurrently. Khan will spend four-and-a-half years behind bars.