Mom pays up for teenaged son

A young Jamaican man who admitted stealing to assist his mother with the rent, has been told that he “cannot come to the people’s place and get yourself in trouble”.

Chief Magistrate made the statement this afternoon to 19-year-old Cedric George Anthony Prussia, of Hinds Road, Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael.

Prussia, who said he had been in Barbados for the past three months, pleaded guilty to entering the house of Fayola Murray on Christmas Eve and stealing BDS$600 cash, a bag, a purse, J$400 and $50 in jewelry.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that the complainant and other persons rent rooms at a property. Murray secured her property and left the residence but on her return found them missing. Prussia was interviewed in connection with the offence and admitted to being the culprit.

“I am guilty sir,” he told Weekes as he addressed the court on his reason for committing the offence.

He added: “I apologise to the lady sir and I got my mother here with me.”

“The reason is, me and my mother got notice, she couldn’t pay the rent and she was stressing sir. I was trying to get a job and they send me to get vaccinated. She [Murray] said if my mother is willing to pay back the $700 she will just squash it. I got my mother here she will pay my plane ticket for me . . . I wish to go back.”

However, Weekes asked the accused, unless he was qualified and fell into the category of skilled CARICOM worker, “What job can you get in the six months you are here?”. The young man did not give an answer.

Prussia’s mother who was in court was asked whether she had the $700 to repay the complainant for that “foolishness” that her son had gotten into. The woman said she had $600 as that was the amount she had previously been told and asked whether she could pay the balance later. She said she got the money from her boyfriend.

The money was paid and Prussia will return to the court on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 to settle the balance.

In the meantime he is on $1 500 bail following no objections from the prosecution and a stern warning from the court.