Desperate for money, a man followed a teenager walking alone into a residential estate in Upper Thomson to rob her.

As the 18-year-old girl was walking along Gardenia Road and using her mobile phone on Nov 27 last year, full-time national serviceman Radin Rizwan Radin Rosman, 24, quickened his footsteps and tried to snatch her phone at about 10.30pm.

When she struggled and shouted for help, Radin used his right arm grab her in a stranglehold to stop her from shouting. She fainted.

Two sisters in the neighbourhood were at home when they heard the shouts for help and ran towards the direction of the shouts. They saw Radin holding the girl in a stranglehold from the back.

One of the sisters sought their father's help. When Radin realised that the sisters were approaching, he fled but was later caught.

The victim was taken to hospital for injuries to her scalp, neck and left collarbone. An X-ray of her neck and cervical spine showed abnormal curvature of the spine.

Yesterday, Radin was sentenced to the mandatory minimum of five years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane for attempted robbery with hurt. He pleaded guilty.

Criminal Legal Aid Scheme fellow Cheryl Ng said in mitigation for Radin that he committed the offence out of desperation as he needed money for food.

He could have been jailed for up to 20 years and caned for the offence.

Elena Chong