A knife-wielding robber has been jailed after seven years of evading justice on the run in Mauritius.

Aadum Nozeer stood over a 16-year-old boy with a knife and demanded his mobile phone as part of a gang robbery in St Albans in March 2003.

Having returned to this country, Nozeer, only 17 at the time of the robbery, was arrested at the family home in Drakes Drive, St Albans earlier this year and put on trial.

Nozeer, now aged 25, married to his pregnant wife and settled down with a good job, was found guilty of robbing Ben Clayton at St Albans Crown Court in July.

Sentence was adjourned for reports until today when Claire Palmer, defending, asked the judge not to jail her client.

Nozeer was addicted to drugs at the time of the offence and fled to Mauritius before his original trial date in 2004 to rid himself of drugs.

After coming back clean of drugs four years later, Nozeer married and got a job at Topps Tiles.

References from Nozeer's father, the local gym and the president of a mosque were produced to attest to his good character.

Ms Palmer conceded: "There is no acknowledgement to the fact he committed robbery, but they show his character and the way he behaves now."

"He said to me he is concerned and scared of going to prison.

"I would ask, despite the serious nature of the offence, you take the view any prison sentence can be suspended.

"He has found himself as a man of religion. He is married and a father-to-be and has a good job, and is very sorry for the part he played in 2003."

As Judge Stephen Gullick passed an immediate prison sentence of three years and ten months for robbery and failing to answer bail, Mr Clayton's mother shouted "Yes" from the public gallery.

Judge Gullick said: "You stood over a 16-year-old and robbed him of property.

"You had a knife, I am satisfied. Others had a car jack.

"It is aggravated by the fact your victim was young, it was at night and there were more than one of you involved.

"You chose to contest the matter and so I cannot give you any credit for a guilty plea or expression of remorse.

"Since the robbery your life has changed considerably and you are a respected member of the community, but you were at large for a number of years.

"Time passed by and the victims had longer and longer to wait hoping that the matter would be resolved.

"You must understand, even after this period of time, those that commit offences of this seriousness and fail to attend their trial will face substantial periods of imprisonment."