Career thief jailed for three months

His admission of stealing slippers from the display of a City store on Thursday, has left a 55-year-old man serving a three-month jail sentence.

Keith Fitzgerald Anderson Batson of no fixed place of abode admitted in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to the theft of three pairs of Crocs valued $45 and a pair of $15 slippers belonging to Simmon King on August 13.

The court heard that the complainant is the owner of a store which sells clothing and slippers, some of which are displayed on a table by the entrance door. The store is outfitted with CCTV surveillance.

Security was alerted by a member of the public that there was a man taking items from the outside display.

The manager checked the cameras and saw the accused removing the shoes before fleeing down Swan Street and reported the matter to police. The accused was later seen and captured.

“The situation with the slippers, I thought they were abandoned. I thought they were throwing them away,” Batson said.

Noting the accused’s 23 previous convictions, the majority of which were for theft, Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick said “You are known for stealing. You know you cannot walk around and be picking up people things. You are a town man, and you know how things are set up in town with regards to displays. So, you knew you were stealing. The problem is what to do with you now.”

Batson replied “Jail ain’t for me, I do not like being incarcerated.”

Sentencing him to three months in prison, Frederick replied, “The people have gotten back their slippers, you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. I am giving you the minimum time I can give you.”

(JB)