Eskasoni man who robbed Sydney bank gets federal time

An Eskasoni man who robbed a Sydney bank in 2015 has been given a federal jail sentence along with probation.

Randy Travis Alex, 27, was charged with armed robbery in connection with the holdup on Dec. 3, 2015, of the Toronto-Dominion bank on Charlotte Street in Sydney.

He made off with about $200 and was arrested the following day.

He was found guilty of the offence after a provincial court trial and was also held criminally responsible for his actions after a psychiatric assessment.

The assessment was ordered after repeated concerns were raised about his mental health.

After receiving reports from both Crown and defence, a judge decided that Alex was not suffering a disease of the mind at the time he committed the offence.

Alex was given a total sentence of 48 months (four years) but was also credited with the 38 months he spent on remand. He is now to serve an additional 10 months behind bars.

In addition, he is to supply a DNA sample to the national registry and is banned from possessing firearms for the remainder of his life.

Alex is also to complete a 36-month probation period during which he is to take all counselling for addiction and mental health as recommended by his probation officer. He is also to stay away from the bank.