Anab Issah, a 22-year-old unemployed man who slapped a security officer and stole his mobile phone has been sentenced to three years imprisonment in hard labour by a Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded guilty to assault, escaping from lawful custody and stealing.

Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court presided by Mr. Justice Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant, Prosper Ametepe, lived at Akoon while the convict who had no permanent place of abode often slept at the Tarkwa Railway Station.

She said around 2155 hours on May 26, the complainant and his wife were walking along the Tarkwa Railway line and on reaching a spot opposite the Railway Police Station the convict, who was then coming from the opposite direction, touched the complainant’s wife’s buttocks.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said when Prosper confronted him the convict became offended and pushed the complainant, slapped him and took to his heels.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said on the way home, the complainant realized that his mobile phone was missing.

She said the complainant made a complaint at the Railway Police Station and on on July 17, Issah was arrested at the Railway Station. While being escorted to the police station he escaped but he was chased and re-arrested.