Magistrate orders thief to get job or start studying

A 24-year-old man has been given a chance to either find a job or enrol in a course of study, after admitting on Monday that he stole money from three tourists.

Jevon Obrien Jafari Richardson, of Walmer Lodge, Black Rock, St Michael, pleaded guilty to the charge that on October 6, he stole TT$100, and US$60 belonging to Alejandra Van Hensbergen. He also confessed that on September 12, he stole BDS$500, TT$280 and £20 belonging to Natalia Mcburnie, and BDS$250 belonging to Camilla Quesada.

In both cases, the complainants were at Paradise Beach and had left their bags on the sand when they went into the sea to swim. While in the water they saw two men grab their bags and run off. The police were contacted, and Richardson was questioned and confessed to being one of the perpetrators.

Apologising for his actions before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, Richardson said that his partner in the crime had kept most of their ill-gotten gains.

“I really don’t know he. He name Short Man, but it was he idea and I just went long and he carry way most of the currency,” he claimed.

Magistrate Weekes chastised the young man for his behaviour.

“You are 24 years old, unemployed, at home eating out your employed mother’s food and down on a beach stealing. What are you telling yourself because right now you are not serving any purpose!”

Richardson told the court that he had been looking for work but “ain’t bout” working with others. He later added that he was scheduled to do some construction work on a site near his neighbourhood in a few weeks.

Placing him on $4 000 bail with a surety, Magistrate Weekes told Richardson he was giving him an opportunity to find employment or a course.

“You can go to the Vocational Training Board or the Polytechnic and there are plenty of free courses being offered by the National Transformation Initiative. I am warning you that when you return, you should have either found a job or be enrolled in a course,” he said while delaying sentencing.

The matter was adjourned until November 22.