Confessed thief to be sentenced for 10 offences

The District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court will on October 6 hear how St Elias Charles committed ten counts of theft over a four-month period.

After the facts are disclosed, the Bournes Village, St George resident will learn how he will be punished for his crimes.

In the meantime, Charles will be on remand at Dodds prison where he is also expected to be assessed by a psychiatrist to determine whether he is a suitable candidate for one of the drug rehabilitation programmes.

The 52-year-old appeared before Magistrate Bernadeth John on Friday and pleaded guilty to the ten charges, but was not required to plead to an indictable charge of going equipped.

All the offences were committed this year.

May 4 – stole three blocks of cheese worth $139 belonging to BJ’s Value Mart trading as Popular Discounts.

May 4 – stole a car stereo worth $500.

May 30 – stole a laptop worth $3 500 belonging to Michelle Thompson.

August 3 – stole a bag worth $500 and a $59 cream belonging to Cheryl Forde.

Between August 4 and 8 – stole a laptop and a portable hotspot totaling $2 050 belonging to Balran Parsooram.

August 17 – stole a bag, a pair of glasses and three passports, with a total value of $2 360, belonging to Sherrie-Ann Roberts.

August 19 – stole two speakers worth $198 belonging to Unicomer Barbados Limited trading as Courts.

August 28 – stole three speakers worth $450 belonging to Unicomer Barbados Limited trading as Courts.

August 30 – stole a purse, $107, a Barbados identification card, a driver’s licence, a Pricesmart card, and a medical card belonging to Racquel Davis, as well as a bag, a charger, a pair of pants, two shirts and a pair of Airpods belonging to Xhayah Payne, with a total approximate value of $1 516.

August 31 – stole a cellular phone worth $250 belonging to Richard Forde.

On the indictable charge, it is alleged that he, on September 1, 2023, not being at his place of abode, had with him two slim pieces of metal for use in connection with theft.

“I have a problem . . . . I want some help,” Charles said when told that his sentencing and the reading of facts related to his matters were being deferred for the next 28 days.

He added that he lost his job at the end of April and was “going through some struggle”. 

“I relapse with drugs . . . and I find myself before the court. I never get any professional help yet . . . and I want to show my sons I can make a change. Without this problem, I
would never come before this court,” Charles said.