Former employee caught stealing pleads guilty

A labourer who stole from his place of work has not only lost his job but has added a new conviction to his name.

Romell Ezekial Ash, of Block 1E Infill, Haynesville, St James has also been placed on a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next 12 months if he wants to avoid spending three months in prison.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick also told the convicted thief that he needed to “try and get back on the straight and narrow”.

The advice came after the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing four rims worth $1,400 and four tyres worth $680 belonging to Parts Plus Inc between April 23 and May 5.

Sergeant Robert Jones told the court Ash worked at the car parts and accessories establishment located along Black Rock Main Road. During the period indicated he was seen by two employees throwing the items over the galvanise paling before going to hide them. They reported the matter to the owner of the business who in turn called the police.

“I am sorry. I stole them to put on my car,” Ash said when he was detained by police. The items were recovered. A restitution order has been granted so the business owner can get his merchandise.

“I apologise. I have been working there for the past three years, doing carpentry, masonry, building shelves to put the accessories on,” said Ash who claimed that the tyres and rims had been used, and he did not think they would be sold. He said in hindsight what he should have done was, “ask” him for them.

He added: “What happen is when he ask for them . . . I feel bad because I didn’t know that he would want to sell them.”

The magistrate told Ash that due to his actions he had thrown everything away that he had work for during the past three years having gone to Verdun House and done the treatment. “You relapsed. This looks bad,” the magistrate told Ash who has a previous theft conviction.

“I want to see you get back on the straight and narrow. You were going so good. It is going to be harder now since you lost the job but you have to try and get back on track,” Frederick added.