Skeete’s call

- by Barbados Today January 10, 2019

The fact that he had no money to purchase school items for his children led Owen Gilbert Skeete to steal two bottles of alcohol. 

However, the reputed thief who was only released from prison three months ago will have to serve a six-month sentence for his latest charge. 

When he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today, the 50-year-old of Pioneer Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, pleaded guilty to stealing two bottles of whiskey valued $148.98 belonging to Massy Stores Barbados Limited on January 9, 2019. 

The court heard from prosecutor Station Sergeant Carrison Henry that Skeete went into the Massy supermarket in Warrens around 9:30 a.m. and proceeded to the area where the liquor was kept. 

He was observed by a security guard who saw him take up the items and place one in his left pants pocket and the other in his waist.

Skeete pulled his shirt over his pants to conceal the items. He then took up a pack of biscuits and went to the cashier to pay for them. He was stopped by security as he attempted to exit the store. 

When asked my Acting Magistrate Anika Jackson what drove him to steal the items, Skeete said he did it to support his children. 

“I was doing a little gardening work for a woman, but when I went back the next day she told me someone told her I was a jailbird and she don’t want no jailbirds around her place. 

“I have two children, one is two and the other is five. The little boy was supposed to go to school on Tuesday but he didn’t have any socks or clothes, so I went into Massy and took up the items to sell,” Skeete explained. 

After taking a look at his lengthy conviction card, the magistrate discovered he had spent 18 months in prison for two similar charges between 2017 and 2018. 

“Do you think what you are doing is ok? Don’t you think you have spent enough of taxpayers’ money?” Jackson asked him. 

She then asked if he had a drug or alcohol problem, and the convicted man admitted to being an alcoholic. 

“So you sure you were going to sell that alcohol to get money or were you going to drink it?” the magistrate asked. 

“I would have sold it because I don’t drink whiskey, I drink white rum,” Skeete replied. 

When asked by the magistrate how long he believed he should be sent to prison he said six months. 

“Right now I would like a chance but I know there isn’t a chance for me,” Skeete said. 

Jackson then sentenced him to six months at HMP Dodds. 

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