A three year probation order was handed down to a teenage robber after the elderly victim's husband forgave him, saying he hopes the teen "will move forward in a positive direction".

A compassionate victim's impact statement was issued by William (Cheese) Ray whose seventy-seven year old wife Josie Ray has remained in and out of a coma after Tyone Brangman, 16, knocked her to the ground while stealing her purse outside the Southampton Post Office in February of this year.

"I don't feel bitterness or hatred towards the defendant," Mr. Ray said in the statement which was read in Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr. Ray did say he had initially felt "shocked and dismayed" that an elderly woman like his wife would be victimised in such a crime but that now he only feels sorry for Brangman.

"He left home at 13. No boy who has a decent home leaves home at 13," said Mr. Ray later on that day.

"He didn't know that she was on blood thinners at the time," he added, referring to the fact that Mrs. Ray's medication aggravated the head injuries she received in the robbery.

Mrs. Ray was on her way home from one of her daughter's homes and decided to collect mail when she was pulled to the ground as Brangman pulled on her handbag.

Seventeen-year-old Wayne Christopher was also given three years probation by Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves in May for receiving Mrs. Ray's credit card. Christopher vehemently denied taking part in the robbery.

Brangman's three year probation is a considerably lighter sentence than the custodial sentence which Crown Counsel Shakira Dill recommended for the robbery, which can carry a ten year maximum sentence.

Ms Dill argued that Brangman had "a history of blaming others and finding excuses" for his mistakes. She also added Brangman justified the robbery in his confession saying that he had been driven by hunger to steal the purse, which contained $150.

But Acting Justice Charles-Etta Simmons said that Mr. Ray's "compassion" was the most influential aspect she considered when weighing up the sentence for what she called a "cowardly act".

It was her decision to issue Brangman a probation order with the conditions of mandatory drug and alcohol testing as well as a nightly curfew of 9.30 p.m.

Also as part of Brangman's probation, Mrs. Justice Simmons said that the teen must stay away from the youths he had been with on the day of his crime.

Mrs. Justice Simmons said that she had especially difficult time sentencing Brangman.

His lawyer, Peter Farge, hightlighted Brangman's difficult family situation which saw Brangman homeless at the time of the crime.

According his social inquiry report, the sixteen-year-old had been told to leave his home, and was living with a friend at the time of the crime.

During the course of the proceedings it was revealed that the family had tried to place the teenager in a home for troubled boys due to his behaviour and a marijuana habit which began when he was eight-years-old.

But another side of the youth's character was presented by Brangman's former Business studies teacher Ms Tracy Hayward, who now teaches at the BHS.

According to Ms Hayward, Brangman was a "quiet and very polite student" who she felt needed "some extra attention".

Mrs. Hayward said Brangman would often complain of hunger and she often bought him lunch. She also said that the teenager, who was expelled from Berkeley, was one of the students who benefited from a free breakfast programme offered at the school.

"Tyone was always at school when I arrived in the morning, even as early as seven or seven thirty. I found that strange," said Mrs. Hayward.

Mrs. Justice Simmons interjected: "It's often that the only stability a student can find in their life is at school."

Agreeing, Mrs. Hayward went on to say that she had visited Brangman at the Co-Educational Facility where he told her that he was praying every night for the family of his victim. He also told her that not long after his arrest he had sent a letter to his victim's family apologising to them.

Brangman read a statement immediately before Mrs. Justice Simmons handed down the sentence, in which he said that the mugging of Mrs. Ray was "the biggest mistake of my life".

"I pray every night for that God helps Mrs. Ray to get better and for her family. I can understand how they feel but I ask for their forgiveness," said Brangman

Mrs. Justice Simmons questioned throughout the proceedings whether it would be in the best interest of Brangman to remain at the Co-educational facility or if he should return to his mother and stepfather's home.

In his argument for his client's release, Mr. Farge told the court that Brangman had made great progress while on remand.

According to Mr. Farge, Brangman is currently enrolled in the General Education Degree (GED) programme in which his teachers expect him to be able to finish by next May.

Mr. Farge said, that if released, Brangman would be able to complete his GED at the Adult Education School.

Brangman in his statement said that the "Co-Educational facility had made a big impact" on his life and that he was ready to return to society.

Mrs. Justice Simmons, when handing down said that though she was releasing Brangman, she wished to make it clear to the teen that he had to follow the strict conditions of his probation order and all the instructions of his probation officer or else he would return to prison.

HM Prison's Co-Educational facility is divided into one prison for adult women and another for young men over age 16 and under 20.

When contacted to comment on Brangman's sentence, Mr.Ray would only say he was "honestly sorry for the boy and hope that he sees the light now", but added: "I hope he follows the instructions the judge gave him today and will be able to turn his life around."

Mrs. Ray's condition recently made a turn for the worse, said her daughter Carol Culver.

"She had been waking up and making eye contact, but she couldn't speak. We were hoping that she would be getting better, but now though she opens her eyes, there's no response."

Ms Culver shared that there was little chance of Mrs. Ray recovering.