A Hong Kong man with an extensive criminal record received an eight-year jail sentence in the High Court on Wednesday after admitting to two armed robberies in 2016.
Lau Wai-choi, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of theft and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
On August 6, 2016, Lau, armed with a beef knife, threatened and stole HK$3,000 (US$385) from two women on Saigon Street in Yau Ma Tei at 2am. He on bail for allegedly possessing offensive weapons at the time, Oriental Daily reported.
Nine days later, the defendant snatched two iPhones from a PCCW branch on Jordan Road, prompting two employees to chase Lau. Whne they caught up with him, Lau slashed the woman employee’s head with a 15cm-long knife and cut the male worker’s lower jaw and hands on Woosung Street, Apple Daily reported.
Three police officers joined the chase and eventually arrested Lau, who had a total of 22 convictions, the court heard.
Judge Maggie Poon Man-kay slammed Lau’s violence and cruelty, and thus harsh punishment would be required to serve as a deterrent, since he had not learnt his lesson from his previous prison terms.