A father-of-four convicted of stealing mobile phones and $6000 cash in a violent robbery last year has been jailed for 11 years and nine months with a non-parole period of seven years and nine months.

Joji Nasedra, 48, was convicted of two counts of aggravated robbery following a trial in the High Court in Labasa.

In his ruling, Justice Lee James Burney said he was sure Nasedra played a leading role in the planning and execution of aggravated robberies in the home of Jay Jumar early on April 1 last year.

During the course of the robberies, Mr Kumar’s 14-year-old son was tied up, gagged, blindfolded, and beaten.

Justice Burney told Nasedra Mr Kumar’s three teenage daughters and his sister were obliged to barricade themselves in the bathroom and were subjected to threats of sexual violence “as you and/ or your accomplices attempted to break into the bathroom whilst demanding to know where cash could be found in the house”.

He said $6000 cash and mobile phones were stolen while the occupants suffered injuries requiring medical attention.

The judge said Nasedra was remorseful and wished to be present for his disabled daughter and to set a good example for her.

“If you truly wish to set a good example for your children, I urge you to reflect long and hard on your shameful and abhorrent offending against your victims, especially those innocent children who are likely to have been scarred for life by what you subjected them to that night,” ruled Justice Burney on November 7.

“It is to be hoped that, when you are eventually released from prison, you choose to live the rest of your life as a responsible and law-abiding parent and member of the community.”