Crook admits stealing items from the NCC and other places

Burglar Justin Dave Clarke has been jailed for 18 months on four offences and he will make another appearance in the new year on another charge.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed place of abode, was sentenced this afternoon in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes after pleading guilty to entering the National Conservation Commission (NCC) between December 1 and 2 and stealing a microwave and a radio worth $380.

Sergeant Vernon Waithe revealed that the caretaker had secured the establishment the night before and returned the following day to discover two louvres missing from a window and things scattered. A check of the CCTV led to Clarke’s arrest.

The convict also pleaded guilty to stealing a cellular phone, a handbag and a car key on December 19 belonging to Christina Cumberbatch as well as a cardholder, a cellular phone, $130 cash, headphones, a pair of sunglasses, a car key, and a Barbados ID, total $2 730.80 belonging to Ross Maynard.

He also admitted to entering the National Disabilities Unit as a trespasser and stealing a microwave, 120 tangerines and 100 oranges belonging to the unit between December 17 and 18.

He however, pleaded not guilty to entering the Vashti Inniss Empowerment Centre as a trespasser and stealing seven cans each of cornbeef, sweet corn, tuna, milk and mix vegetables as well as seven bags of rice costing $109.55 and belonging to the HIV Food Bank.

In his mitigation to the charges, Clarke claimed he was not “fit for jail but for the Psychiatric Hospital”.

“If go to jail . . . I will come back and find myself doing the same thing.”

Clarke was given a prison sentence of 18 months on each offence to run concurrently.

He will reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on January 19, 2021 in relation to the charge for which he pleaded not guilty.