Car thief for sentencing on Friday

Joseph Henry St Clair Cadogan will know his fate on Friday when his case continues in the High Court.

The 62-year-old convicted car thief, who was recorded as having no fixed place of abode, was unanimously found guilty by a jury for stealing a motor car worth $41 000 belonging to Chelsea Motors on June 5, 2017.

The evidence before the No. 5 Supreme Court presided over by Justice Pamela Beckles revealed that the vehicle had been stolen from Drill Hall Beach and Cadogan adapted it and used the vehicle as a taxi.

The convict, who is known to the law court with ten prior convictions, five of them for theft, told Justice Beckles today that he had been on remand for the past 44 months.

He however said that time had not been “wasted” as he was able to mentor young men at the institution who could not read or write. He told the court that this was something that he was interested in pursuing on his release especially with troubled teens “because I have been there”.

To this end he urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence in the form of a suspended sentence because he could “make a difference”.

Cadogan added: “I know upon leaving prison, I know I can contribute a lot to society. I know I can make a difference.”

He pointed out that the vehicle in question had been recovered and no violence had been used in the commission of the crime.

“I apologize to the Barbados society. I apologize to the court. I am asking for a non-custodial sentence,” he said.