Convicted thief gets three-month jail term

His 56 previous convictions, more than half of which fell under the Theft Act, caused the pleas of Bertram Russell Lynch to fall on deaf ears in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on Friday.

The 60-year-old of Bank Hall Cross Road, St Michael, added yet another conviction to his long list of antecedents after he pleaded guilty to stealing six packs of batteries valued at $75.10 and two bottles of Tyre Shine valued at $26.78 belonging to Carters and Company Limited on April 18.

Court prosecutor Ralph Rollock told the court that Lynch was in the Barbarees Hill branch of the hardware store when an employee observed him placing items in his pants before walking out. A security officer was notified and ran after Lynch who was walking along the main road. The guard challenged Lynch about the items and he handed over the two bottles of Tyre Shine and was taken back to the store. Police were called and when Lynch was searched, they found the batteries.

Appearing before Magistrate Alison Burke, Lynch apologised for taking the items. He asked the court for a suspended sentence, saying he has a drug problem and would like the opportunity to clean up his act.

However, the magistrate told Lynch that he had been given several suspended sentences in the past, all of which had been breached.

She then sentenced him to three months at Dodds Prison.