Thieves cannot survive off of people’s hard work, Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes advised Friday after a Christ church admitted to stealing $1 000 worth of items.
And while Ackeem Carlos Harewood, 22, apologized profusely for his actions, he will have the next three weeks to reflect while on remand at HMP Dodds.
When he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, Harewood, of #1 Fairview, admitted to stealing a bag, a cell phone, two chargers, a camera, two pairs of sunglasses, a pair of headphones, a wallet and $100, a total value of $1 000, belonging to Kamal Wright on August 17.
Prosecutor Sergeant Verdon Forde told the court that Wright, a sailing instructor, left a bag containing his belongings on the beach. As he was leaving the water, he was alerted that a man had taken his bag.
Police were called in and Harewood was seen running away but he was eventually apprehended.
“I apologize for what I do and it will never happen again, so I am hoping for some leniency. I don’t know what pass through my mind at the time,” Harewood told the court while explaining that he was a hustler.
He explained that when he was held by police he tried to apologize to the complainant.
But the Chief Magistrate told the young man he only sought to apologize after being caught.
“I don’t understand. You get caught and now you sorry? You can’t survive off of people’s hard work. You can’t be part of his suffering after he worked so hard to acquire those things,” he told Harewood.
“Victims have to feel a sense of security and that society and the administration of justice are taking responsibility.”
The Chief Magistrate told Harewood he would be remanded to prison as it would provide him a “chance for reflection and introspection”.
Harewood will return to court on September 9.
