Probation for elderly man after supermarket theft

A 66-year-old Christ Church man who told the court he stole groceries from a supermarket on Wednesday after falling on hard times has been ordered to perform 80 hours of probation.

Anthony Richard Ward of Gibbons Terrace, Christ Church, stole two tins of salmon valued at $45.98, two cartons of nutritional supplement drinks worth $11.50, and a $16.75 pack of turkey ham from Massy Stores Barbados totalling $74.23.

Prosecutor Sergeant Reginald Blackman told Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick the accused went to the supermarket to buy groceries for an elderly neighbour. He went through the aisles, placed the items in a trolley, and then put them into a laptop bag. He was kept under surveillance and was stopped when he attempted to leave the store. Ward consented to a search of the laptop bag, and the items were found.

“ I am sorry for what I have done. I didn’t have the cash,” Ward said.

Questioned further by the court, Ward, who said he used to be a ZR driver, stated that he was now in the artificial intelligence business for the past two months but did not have any contracts.

Chief Magistrate Frederick told him: “You have fallen on some hard times. This is a bit embarrassing because of your age. You are 66. I will let the probation officer speak to you, and we will see what we can do for you.”

Ward returns to court on September 23.

(JB)