Copper thief gets time

Winston Scarlyn Holder will spend three consecutive 18-month sentences at Dodds for his crimes.

Magistrate Manila Renee made the ruling today after the 61-year-old car washer from Combermere Street, St Michael pleaded guilty and the facts were disclosed.

Holder admitted on his first appearance before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to entering Speedbird House as a trespasser between August 14 and 17 and stealing a quantity of copper pipe worth $117.50 belonging to General Stores and Warehousing Limited.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing 24 pieces of copper worth $227.50 belonging to the same business as well as damaging a pipe between August 28 and 31.

The building, according to Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons, was secured on August 14 but when the office assistant returned to work on August 17 she discovered that a piece of the air conditioning line in the bathroom was missing but a footprint was left behind on the floor. A check of the premises pointed to the missing item.

The matter was reported to police.

On August 31 lawmen also received information that the accused had stolen from the business and a search warrant was executed at his residence where the missing property was found. He was taken back to the scene and it was then that officials realised that the pipe had been damaged.

“I would like to ask for some help. I have a very serious drug problem, seven days a week,” Holder said but did not disclose what was his drug of choice.

The convicted man who is “well known” to the law courts added, “I need someone to help me seven days a week, not once a week, or once or twice a week.” He made that comment when told that such programmes were available at HMP Dodds.