18 months for daycare burglar

Damien Ricardo Connell will spend the next 18 months at Dodds Prison after admitting to breaking into a daycare and preschool twice this year.

Appearing in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Monday, the 41-year-old labourer of Piedmont Road, Grazettes, St Michael, confessed that between June 28 and 29, he entered the DePearl Daycare and Preschool as a trespasser and stole two blocks of cheese valued at $84, a tub of butter valued at $15, 20 beers valued at $55, a picture valued at $300 and a boombox valued at $70, belonging to May Nurse-Worrell. He returned between July 2 and 3 and stole another boombox valued at $225, a handheld mixer valued at $112, two cases of juice valued at $70, two containers valued $85, a case of burgers valued $80, a bag valued at $40, 20 beverages valued at $55, a tub valued at $24 and 12 rolls of toilet tissue valued $15, belonging to Nurse-Worrell.

The court heard that in both matters, the complainant had secured the establishment on the evening of the first date and left the premises. Upon returning, she found the preschool broken into and the mentioned items missing.

Meanwhile, Connell denied entering Keisha’s Bar, Grill and Variety with intent to steal between July 2 and 3, and was not required to plead to an indictable charge of entering the Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church with intent to commit theft between June 24 and 26.

Prosecutor Sergeant Reginald Blackman noted that Connell had appeared in court on similar charges last month and was granted bail. He argued that the accused had shown no respect for the court and was likely to reoffend.

Magistrate Manila Renee sentenced him to 18 months on each of the daycare burglaries, to run concurrently. The other two matters were adjourned until July 31.

When asked if he had anything to say, Connell replied: “I sorry and ting.”