ERROR RG P4 23.7.1998 A story in yesterday's newspaper stated that the mother of convicted armed robber Derrick Ebanks James had visited her son since his arrest in the UK two years ago. Sandra Ebanks, who now lives in America, had never visited her son.

A Warwick man is beginning a 14-year jail term after being convicted by a British court of a brutal armed robbery.

On Monday Derrick Ebanks James, who left the Island for the UK in January 1996, was found guilty of armed robbery, causing grevious bodily harm and possessing an imitation firearm after he carried out a vicious raid at a post office in the city of Sheffield in northern England. He had always denied the charges.

The jury at Sheffield Crown Court heard how James, 24, who had been in the country for a matter of weeks as an illegal immigrant, carried out the raid the day before he was due to fly back to Bermuda in February 1996.

He entered the post office in the Broom Hill district of the city and terrorised staff by firing an imitation pistol. He then attacked one assistant, fracturing her fingers, before pistol whipping sub postmaster Gordon Reed, 64, double fracturing his skull. He then made off with 2,665 ($4,500).

James fled to a nearby pub where he asked the landlord to telephone for a taxi. But the landlord spotted that the robber was armed and instead called the Police. The pub was quickly surrounded by armed Police and James, still waiting for his getaway taxi, was arrested shortly after by two detectives in plain clothes.

Mr. Reed, who suffered brain damage from the attack, died just over a year later. It was revealed that he was frozen by fear during the incident and paramedics had to physically prize his fingers away from his post office counter to release his grip after the raid. His widow claimed that his death was due to the trauma he suffered at the hands of his young attacker. But because he died more than a year after the incident, prosecutors could not push for a murder charge. Under British law an attacker can only be charged with murder if his victim dies within 365 days of the assault.

Sentencing James, trial judge Andrew Campbell QC said: "You hit Mr. Reed's assistant then smashed your way into the post office section and you gratuitously and brutally assaulted Mr. Reed with such force you fractured his skull in two places. Part of his skull was driven into his brain but, miraculously, he survived. I take the view that it is only appropriate that I pass a sentence that reflects that recovery and the fact that the prosecution cannot create any causal link with Mr. Reed's death.'' After the sentence, heartbroken widow Hazel Reed said: "Justice has been done. The husband that I knew died that night. He was left with brain damage and the trauma of what happened had everything to do with his death.'' It is not certain whether James, who lived in Lusher Hill and attended Heron's Bay Primary and Warwick Secondary School, will serve out his sentence in the UK or be sent back to Bermuda.

Bermudian jailed for armed robbery in UK A British prison service spokesman said: "Normally, if someone is convicted and sentenced in this country, they would serve their sentence here, although we do have exchange agreements with some countries. In this instance I expect the prisoner to serve his sentence in a British prison.'' James, who was born in Jamaica, was adopted by his grandparents, Richard and the late Frances James, after his mother Sandra Ebanks moved to the US.

Last night Mr. Richard James, who now lives in Horseshoe Road, Southampton, could not be contacted to discuss the verdict.

But one family friend described the convicted robber as "a troublesome youngster'' and it is understood he spent some time in care before eventually leaving the Island.

In 1993, aged 19, he was given a one month prison sentence for the possession of cannabis and cocaine and for obstructing a Police Officer.

One relative, who does not wish to be named, said last night: "We're surprised to hear that it was such a violent attack. We knew he was in trouble but we never knew that he'd done all these violent things.

"I never saw him working, I don't think he ever had a job and I don't think he was hardly ever in secondary school.

"But it's not a relief to know that he's now in jail and won't get into further trouble. I haven't seen him in years but we still talk about him and his mother has visited him in England.'' It is not known whether James will appeal either the conviction or his sentence.

CRIME CRM ERROR RG P4 23.7.1998 A story in yesterday's newspaper stated that the mother of convicted armed robber Derrick Ebanks James had visited her son since his arrest in the UK two years ago. Sandra Ebanks, who now lives in America, had never visited her son.