Man attempted robbery two months after prison release

A MAN attempted to rob a city shop with a large knife just two months after being released by the prison authorities, having served only half of a 32-month sentence for a similar crime.

When Sheriff Gordon Liddle imposed the original sentence on 29-year-old Nordine Afia in May 2009 he also ordered that he be supervised for 12 months after his release.

Afia was set free on June 16 this year and on August 31, armed with a large kitchen knife, he attempted to rob two shop assistants, Linda Brown and Bajitar Singh, in a Choices Express store in Newington Road, Edinburgh.

Afia, a prisoner at Edinburgh, pled guilty to the attempted assault and robbery. Sentence was deferred until today for a psychiatric report.

Sheriff Liddle ordered that he serve the remainder of the original sentence.

The Sheriff then added 32 months' imprisonment, with a further 12 months' supervised release.