A former employee of well known medical practitioner Dr Jephthah Ford, who had attacked the doctor with a machete, beat and robbed him of $12,600, is now serving a nine-month prison sentence.

Andrew Williams, who attacked the doctor in the early morning while he was entering his home, claimed Dr Ford owed him $7,000.

The sentence was handed down on Thursday by Parish Judge Vaughn Smith when Williams showed up for sentencing.

The 24-year-old man, who was employed as a clerical assistant at Ford’s medical centre, went to Ford’s home at 2:30 am on August 21.

The court heard previously that on the morning of the incident, Ford arrived home and saw Williams sitting on his wall.

Williams then asked the doctor for money, which he claimed was owed to him, but when his demand was not met he took up a machete and hit the doctor.

Ford, the court heard, held on to the weapon and was cut on a finger.

When Dr Ford appeared in court in August, he denied owing Williams any money.

“I owe him nothing. He is paid to date. I have all the records to prove it,” Dr Ford said.

“Your Honour, he said he was smoking weed and drinking all day to build the confidence to kill me and get famous. I told him I was not afraid and that he wasn’t going to kill a big man like me,” Ford told the court.

Williams, who had been charged with robbery with aggravation, wounding, and assault at common law, pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentencing.

On Thursday, before the sentence was passed, Williams’ attorney begged Judge Smith to show mercy and not send him to jail.

She told the court that Williams is a former ward of the state who had endured a hard time, bouncing from home to home since he was two years old.

“He is hurt that he does not know his parents and his experience in the homes was very bad and he was ill-treated,” she said.

She further told the judge the Williams had no previous offence and asked that he be offered counselling and be given a non-custodial sentence.

“He has vowed never to be involved in this again,” she said.

But the judge said: “I am troubled by what I see, as it is clear you are not an idiot.”

Pointing to the fact that Williams had exam passes in English language, food and nutrition, and agriculture the judge said: “You strike me as someone with potential, but you are smoking and drinking it away.”

The judge, after reading the social enquiry report on Williams, highlighted the accused man’s anger problem, which had resulted in numerous reports being made against him.

Judge Smith, before sentencing Williams, then told him that his behaviour was unacceptable and that he needed a “sharp, short shock”.

However, he advised him to use the time in prison wisely to reflect on his actions and that he should also further his education and try to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Williams was sentenced to nine months each on charges of unlawful wounding and robbery with aggravation. For the assault at common-law charge, he was admonished and discharged. The sentences will run concurrently.