Middle-age shoplifter begs for fine

Horace Chesterfield Jones has 41 years of petty theft to his “credit”.

However, the 57-year-old Lower Haggatt Hall, St Michael resident appeared to have not contemplated that returning five days later to the scene of his crime could get him caught.

Jones went to iMart Pharmacy in his community on April 2 and according to the facts outlined by Sergeant St Clair Philip, the store manager on duty observed him walking around the establishment. He then went to the area were the deodorants were displayed and took up two of them costing $26.80 and placed them in his pocket.

A check of the security footage showed that he went to the checkout counter paid for some items but not the deodorant.

He made good his escape that day.

Jones however returned to the same pharmacy today where he was identified and the police were called in. He was arrested but the sanitary products were not recovered.

“If you can help me with a little fine please it will be helpful. I getting a little problem with the welfare. I ain’t get money for a year. Sometime I does get a little job . . . I last had a cheque in January last year” Jones explained.

But Magistrate Elwood Watts told the convict he had a bigger problem. “You have been doing a lot of petty stealing from way back, since 1979. Forty-one years you have been stealing and you ain’t stop yet.”

“We will have to keep you off the streets given the Covid-19 situation, give you some food and clothing. I can’t give you a fine because you are not in a position to pay the money. Three months in jail for $26 sounds harsh but not when you have been stealing for 41 years,” Magistrates Watts said as he sentenced Jones.