Lawrence Nathaniel Hayden Blunt has a secured place to stay for the next three months after stealing more than $2 000 worth of nuts, breaching a suspended sentence imposed on him earlier this year.
The 46-year-old of no fixed place of abode appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to stealing 15 cases of assorted nuts worth $1 997.60, between July 17 and 18, 2023, belonging to Confectionery and Snacks Barbados Limited.
He also admitted to stealing 176 packs of nuts valued at $314 and 24 packs of Cheezees worth $30, on August 6, 2023.
“They have extra boxes in there that add in, but I guilty,” said Blunt.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate how many boxes he stole, the thief appeared unsure, responding, “Um”.
The items had been packed in padlock trucks and were left in the yard of the Green Hill, St Michael company. Police were summoned to the area after boxes were discovered missing. There was also blood on the site.
On August 6, the alarm at the business was triggered and lawmen were called again. When police arrived, according to court prosecutor Sergeant Verdon Forde, Blunt dropped the items he was carrying and tried to flee but he was apprehended.
After reading the facts, the prosecutor told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that Blunt had been given a three-month sentence that was suspended for 18 months when he appeared before another magistrate in June.
“I needed some money,” Blunt told the Chief Magistrate as he explained his actions.
He initially tried to convince Weekes that he had been given a bond but subsequently asked to explain what the suspended sentence was. Blunt was told that it meant he had to behave himself and stay out of trouble with the law for a year and a half from the time of the sentence being imposed.
With the previously suspended three-month sentence triggered as a result of his guilty pleas to the theft charges, Blunt was ordered to spend that time in jail.
Chief Magistrate Weekes then imposed two three-month sentences for the theft charges. However, those will run concurrently with the first sentence.
Blunt was also ordered to undergo drug treatment counselling while serving his time at Dodds Prison.
“That’s the first time I getting it [drug counselling] in prison,” Blunt stated as he was escorted out of the court.
