An act of revenge landed Shanie McCarlo Callendar before the law court today for the first time in his life.
The 28-year-old, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty to entering the George Lamming Primary School as a trespasser on April 28 and stealing a bag, a jacket, a body spray, six mangoes, two jam puffs as well as a Barbados identification card and a debit card totalling $348.25 in value and belonging to Williams Watts, the school’s security guard.
The complainant was on duty when he saw Callendar on the compound. Watts observed Callendar take up his bag, which had been placed in the school’s hallway, and run. The matter was reported to police and Calendar was detained. The property was recovered according to Sergeant Theodore McClean.
Attorney-at-law Martie Garnes addressing the court on Callendar’s behalf, told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes that prior to the incident the complainant was in the habit of accosting his client.
“It was an opportunistic crime . . . to give the complainant a taste of what he was feeling. This does not excuse what he did but he has shown contrition and remorse and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. The reason he went to the school was to get a little WIFI,” Garnes submitted.
He also asked the chief magistrate to look favourably at sentencing and submitted that a bond be placed on his client, with no conviction to be recorded once completed successfully.
The defence counsel also revealed that the reason the young man currently had no fixed place of abode was because he lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was unable to pay his rent. He said while he had a family there was a bit of tension. But he said Callendar’s mother was surprised to hear that he was on the streets and was ready to assist him.
Chief Magistrate Weekes agreed with the submission and placed Callendar on a bond for the next six months to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. However, if he breaches that order he would have to pay a forthwith fine of $1,000 to the court or spend three months in prison.
His record will be kept clean if he serves the bond period successfully.
He has however, been forbidden to go back to the educational plant.
