A career criminal yesterday apologized to his victim and to society before a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison for robbery.
Andrew Bridgewater, 38, was arrested in November last year, months after his release from prison for the sexual assault of a six-year-old girl.
Bridgewater, who was unrepresented, confessed to his latest crime when he appeared before Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on November 25.
The magistrate remanded Bridgewater to prison and sent him to the Supreme Court for sentencing because of his extensive criminal history.
However, Senior Justice Jon Isaacs sent the case back to the magistrate because she made a procedural error by failing to tell him he was convicted.
Isaacs held a sentencing hearing after the magistrate corrected her error.
Prosecutor Kevin Farrington told the court that Bridgewater befriended Patrice Butler on November 21 and invited her to his home before he led her through a track road. The court heard Bridgewater punched Butler in the face and choked her before saying, "Where my children money? I give it to you and they say you ain't give them no money." Butler told Bridgewater the money was in her purse, but she grabbed a pair of scissors from her handbag and stabbed him.
Bridgewater, who has four similar convictions for stealing (2004), robbery (2001) shopbreaking and stealing (1995) and attempted stealing (1993), promised that this would be his last offense.
A repentant Bridgewater told Isaacs, "I apologize to the young lady. I apologize to society. This is my last time. I tired of them hearing my name. I want to apologize to everyone out there, mainly the young lady."
Bridgewater complained that other inmates in maximum security were taking advantage of him. He said, "Please tell HMP (Her Majesty's Prisons) don't let them beat me no more because that's all is happen to me."
Bridgewater started crying after Isaacs ordered that he serve eight years, three more than the magistrate's sentencing cap.

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