Home invader blames drug problem for actions

A 50-year-old man admitted on Thursday that his criminal tendencies stem from a “serious drug problem”.

Michael Alexander Wilkinson, of no fixed place of abode, stated that position moments before being sentenced to three and a half years in prison for four home invasions over the last two months.

He also has to answer to three other similar crimes allegedly committed in two other jurisdictions.

“I come here before you with my honesty. I have a serious drug problem. I never get no help towards my problem. Every time I try to control this addiction, I find myself doing these things all the time,” Wilkinson told Magistrate Kim Butcher.

The repeat offender was however told that he would have to utilise the drug rehabilitation programme at Dodds Prison during his incarceration.

“I don’t think I have ever seen antecedents this thick,” the magistrate said of the cards listing his previous convictions. “I can see from your history that you have been in and out of prison consistently from 1990 to present. I am going to impose a term of imprisonment . . . . I would suggest to you, Sir, that you get help when you are there.”

“Oftentimes, people come and say that they never had any help before but when they are out they do not seek help. I can see that you have a challenge. You have to get help for it otherwise this is just going to be a cycle that you are on,” Magistrate Butcher added.

Wilkinson was sentenced to three and half years for trespassing into the house of Richard Parris on July 1 and stealing a number of items belonging to him and Corrine Parris worth $9 680. Among the items were rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, a laptop, and bottles of rum and wine.

Two 18-month sentences were imposed on Wilkinson, to run concurrently with the first sentence, for breaking into the home of Valentine Hoyte on July 7 and stealing two jewellery boxes, five chains, and two rings worth $4 380; and for breaking into the residence of Venice Goodman on July 4 and taking $3 100 in cash and items, including three tablets, and jewellery.

Wilkinson was convicted, reprimanded, and discharged on the charge of burglarising the home of Sherwaine Sheldon Forde between June 18 and 19 and stealing GUY$140 which is equivalent to BDS$1.35, as well as US$2 and BDS$300.

In all the cases, the complainants had left home and later returned to find their residences had been broken into.

In fact, Hoyte actually found Wilkinson in his home before he jumped out a bedroom window. Hoyte pursued him through a track but the burglar made good his escape, according to the facts read by Station Sergeant Randolph Boyce.

However, Wilkinson’s legal troubles are not yet over.

He now has to face the District ‘E’ Magistrates’ Court on July 25 on two matters.

He is accused of entering two houses on July 12 – that of Amanda Bobb, and stealing a pair of shoes and a tablet worth $320; and the home of Kim Gaskin where he stole a laptop and charger, chain, and bracelet worth $1 600.

On July 26, he will appear before the magistrate at District ‘C’ on the charge that on June 7, he burglarised the home of Ian Blackman and stole a laptop, colognes, a watch, and a Barbados passport. The total value of the items was $2 650.