I was wrong’

Between sobs, a 56-year-old woman told a magistrates’ court today, that she was sorry for embarrassing herself and family after stealing $27 worth of items from a beauty store on January 14.

Janice St. Clair of 6 Hilton Row, Princess Royal Avenue, Pinelands, St Michael, admitted to acting Magistrate Anika Jackson that she went into BGI Beauty Inc. on Constitution Road, St Michael, and stole one nail polish remover worth $12; a pack of hair nets worth $3 and two hair accessories worth $12, total value $27.

According to prosecutor, PC Kenmore Phillips, the mother of five entered the establishment around 12:30 p.m. and went to the shelves where the items were displayed and placed them in a bag.  She was observed by security and the police were summoned.

Initially, St Clair said she had nothing to say after the prosecutor oulined the matter, but changed her mind and said: “I am sorry, I know I was wrong.”

She further told the court that her eldest child, a 38-year-old young man chided her and said: “Look at you, you tell we don’t get we selves in nuh trouble and look wuh you gone and do.”

Noting that the ages of her other children are – 37, 31, 30 and 26, St Clair said that her daughter does not live at her.

Asked if her four sons were working, she said only the 38-year-old, adding that one was also deaf and dumb, and the others were not working because of the economic situation now being experienced in the island.

When the eldest son came to stand surety, he admitted that he was still angry with his mother and the acting Magistrate pointed out to him, that his brothers were adults and must contribute to the household.

She added “As the eldest, I want you to impress upon the others the need to help your mother. Barbados has a lot of opportunities, there are things out there that can be done.”

Before placing the middle-aged woman on 80 hours of community service, the acting magistrate told her “I have taken into account that you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and placed yourself at the mercy of the court. You admitted that you are embarrassed and that you are under undue stress.”

However, she warned St Clair that if the Probation Department found that she was not fit for community service she would look at other options but fining for theft was out of the question.

Bail was in the sum of $500 with one surety and the matter was adjourned until April 5.