A YOUNG man arrested for planning a robbery within a month of being released from prison was jailed for 31/2 years yesterday.
Chan Kwok-chun, 21, who was discharged from prison in December last year after serving a 10-month term for wounding and assault, had denied conspiracy to rob, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an arrestable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.
The High Court jury had found him guilty of all three charges and Mr Justice Patrick Chan had called for reports before sentencing.
Passing sentence yesterday, Mr Justice Chan noted that the defendant had come from a miserable family and had got into trouble with the law when he was eight.
His father was a drug addict and his brother was in prison, he said.
The offences Chan had committed were very serious and he deserved a heavy sentence, the judge said.
