THE sister of a North-East man who drowned in Bermuda was robbed at knifepoint while settling his affairs on the tropical island.

A man was this week jailed for six months for his part in the robbery of Lily Gill, 25, from Darlington.

Ms Gill was in Bermuda dealing with the aftermath of the death of her brother, Martin Molinski, also of Darlington, who drowned in March.

Mr Molinski, 26, had been working in the country as a vinyl fabricator.

He went missing on March 17 and his clothes were found the next day in the Pembroke area of the island. His body was discovered on a beach at Tobacco Bay on March 21.

This week, Donovan Adams, 20, was sentenced for the robbery at the island’s magistrates’ court.

The court heard that Adams and an accomplice confronted Ms Gill in the early hours of April 9, robbing her of her handbag and leaving her with a graze, according to Karen King, prosecuting.

Ms Gill was sitting with a 25-year-old man on a bench at 3.10am when they were accosted by two men.

Adams’ accomplice brandished a knife and the pair fled in a car after they stole Ms Gill’s bag.

Police found their getaway vehicle outside a community club. Adams, from the Bailey’s Bay area, admitted robbery.

Ms King said: “This was a robbery that took place on Front Street in the hours of darkness.

“The complainant was a visitor who had only arrived a few hours before. She was here to finalise the affairs of her deceased brother and there was some injury caused.”

Charles Richardson, in mitigation, asked senior magistrate Archibald Warner to be lenient, saying it was Adams’ first offence and was out of character.

Mr Warner said: “Clearly if this economy depends on tourism as its lifeline, if you go around robbing tourists – not that they should be treated any differently from locals – that is an aggravating circumstance; a strong one.”

Adams will also serve an additional two years’ probation.

■ Blair Richardson, 25, has denied robbery and will stand trial next month.