A woman who robbed a man with cerebral palsy in a vicious mugging has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Aji Sinera, 30, of Camelford Street, Brighton, faces the prospect of prison if she breaks the law again in the next two years.
Sussex Police said: “After a vulnerable man with cerebral palsy was knocked to the ground and had his bank card stolen, a woman has been sentenced.
“On the evening of Monday 27 October 2025, a man in his thirties was using a cash machine in St James’s Street, Brighton, when he was approached and assaulted by a woman after she had asked him for money.
“The victim was knocked to the ground during a struggle to take his wallet.
“She fled the scene with his bank card and went on to use it in nearby shops.
“On CCTV, she was seen calmly buying takeaway food with the stolen card and also attempting to make further transactions.
“Officers responded to the robbery report and inquiries led to a woman being arrested in connection with the investigation on Thursday 30 October.
“Thirty-year-old Aji Sinera, of no fixed address, was charged the same day with three counts of fraud by false representation and with robbery.”
She appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court the next day, her 30th birthday, and was remanded in custody.
Sinera pleaded guilty at a hearing in November and was further remanded in custody to await sentence.
On Thursday 19 March, she appeared before Judge Joshua Swirsky at Hove Crown Court where she was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
She was also ordered to undergo an alcohol treatment programme for 18 months and attend up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
Outrageous. A violent crime should carry a custodial sentence. No exceptions.
But by that logic, you’d deny claims of self-defence, mental health crises, capacity issues, coercion, just to name a few. It’s a slippery slope argument, although I understand the good-faith behind it. There are some factors to consider as well; there’s a narrative here (not a justification, mind) that Aji’s actions were fuelled by alcohol and her homelessness status.
Are you really defending violence? I wonder if you would have the same opinion if some lowlife attacked you.
No, I’m defending the need for nuance and the risk of a slippery slope argument. I quite clearly state it is not a justification.
This comment section is full of people who have no idea what the word “nuance” means.
Any crime and in particular violent crime should be rewarded by a prison sentence, if we need more prisons then build them but make them a deterrent so criminals don’t want to go back there.
Make them work for basic stuff like food, no televisions, just the basics.
Well done England, another maggot on the loose.
She was remanded in custody on 30th October and sentenced on 19th March. She has spent four and a half months in prison.
Not nearly long enough.
Why? How would a longer custodial sentence help anyone? Would it act as a deterrent? Or would it just satisfy your sense of vengeance and cost the taxpayer £1,000 a week? Here are the Sentencing Council guidelines https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/robbery-street-and-less-sophisticated-commercial/
Very weird logic. You seem to be saying you don’t like people facing justice for committing crimes
It sounds more like Justin is advocating proportionality; perfectly sound logic.
Some superb mental gymnastics going on there.