Man accused of 11 break-ins

Henderson Ricardo Austin, who had no fixed place of abode up to Wednesday, will have a roof over his head for the next 28 days and possibly for much longer.

Austin, who disclosed that he is a habitual cocaine user, was remanded to Dodds prison, pending sentencing, after pleading guilty to 11 break-ins, the majority of which were committed this year.

He first broke into the Bay Primary School between May 28 and 29, 2019, and stole $7 belonging to the State. He targeted the school again between March 21 and 22 this year, this time stealing a case of juice and 15 soft drinks worth $78.

On Christmas Eve last year, he stole a bag and 40 bottles of tablets worth $2 100 from the Welches Chiropractic Clinic belonging to Michael Cumberbatch.

During the January 7 to 24 period, he also entered Med Plus Medical Centre with intent to steal, as well as Chosen One Day Care where he stole $300. He also entered Franklyn House twice – once with intent to steal and on another occasion making off with $100 belonging to Ambrose Ramsay. In the following month – February 12 and 13 – he burglarised Tender Dental Services and got away with $5.

Between March 11 and 24, he stole $1 632 in items from Integrated Technical Services; $405.62 worth of items including foodstuff from Shawn Brathwaite’s house; and $2 490 worth of items, including alcoholic beverages and chicken wings, from the Cool Square Sports Bar belonging to Kevel Evans-Lewis.

Austin will return before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 4 when Sergeant Shane Chase will outline the facts of the case before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes. The prosecutor, however, informed the court that the circumstances of all the break-ins were similar.

When told that he would be sentenced on the next occasion, Austin, who is known to the court stated: “I got a drug problem. I am a habitual user of cocaine.”

He explained that he was before the court in 2019 and was sent to Dodds where he was enrolled in the drug programme but “nothing happened” and he was released in 2021.