Thief says hard times caused him to commit crime

A known thief said he had fallen on “hard times” when he snatched merchandise from a storefront on a busy City Street last year.

Kenneth Anderson Brathwaite, of 3rd Avenue Nurse Land, Tweedside Road, Carrington Village, St Michael, was only caught by police last weekend, two months after he committed the crime.

Brathwaite pleaded guilty to stealing four bathroom mats worth $164.96 belonging to S.Y. Adams on December 6, 2021.

Station Sergeant Vernon Waithe disclosed that Brathwaite went to the front of the High Street branch of the store where the mats were on display before walking away. He subsequently returned, took up the items, and made good his escape.

Store officials were notified by some persons about what had happened and Brathwaite was seen on CCTV committing the crime.

However, he was only apprehended by police last Saturday while on Tudor Street.

Brathwaite, who has a long history of being before the courts, with the majority of his convictions for theft, pleaded with Magistrate Manila Renee for a chance.

“It was hard times,” he said, claiming he had no money to buy food or pay bills. “I was not working at the time. I ran into hard times in December, I took a path that was foolish.”

However, Brathwaite said, his situation had improved. He claimed that he worked with Kensington Oval Management Inc before being arrested.

“I work at cricket cleaning the stands. I got paid up to last Thursday. I fall on hard times; I am not a bad person,” he told the court.

“I do stupidness but I am not a bad person. I could pay a fine. I am a diabetic, I am an asthmatic. I do a lot of foolishness; I want to done with that.”

He was remanded pending sentence and for the court to verify his employment claims.

Brathwaite will make his next appearance before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court at Cane Garden, St Thomas on March 8.