Thief admits to loitering on property but said he just wanted to rest

Well-known thief Arleigh Patrick Todd admitted to loitering at a Brittons Hill, St Michael property, not with any criminal intent but because he became ill and needed to rest.

“I am a diabetic and have hypertension and was dizzy. I did went on the premises but I went to sleep, but my intention was not criminal. I was not feeling well,” added the 64-year-old resident of Upper Collymore Rock, St Michael who has some 70 convictions to his name.

He was addressing Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Thursday after pleading guilty in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to the charge that, being a reputed thief, he loitered on the premises of Josiah Shepherd, on May 8, with intent to steal.

“I wasn’t there with the intent to commit any crime. I was blacking out,” Todd maintained. “I was on the premises with no one’s permission because I was feeling so bad.”

However, when questioned further by Weekes, the convicted man also admitted that he had been partying and had “a good set” of alcohol.

“I used to smoke everything but I don’t smoke anymore,” he claimed.

Providing the details of the crime Todd was charged with, Sergeant Randolph Boyce told the court that Shepherd is in the process of building a house in Brittons Hill. The property is secured with galvanized paling and a gate. However, in recent times when he visited the property, he would discover the gate opened. On one occasion, chairs went missing.

The prosecutor disclosed that the complainant was on his way to cut grass at the property when he received information about Todd. The matter was reported to police and Todd was detained.

When lawmen questioned him, he denied taking the chairs from the property but admitted to entering the house.

Todd was given a sentence of three months in prison but it was suspended for 12 months.