The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 48-year-old man was sentenced to three months in prison yesterday after admitting to stealing over $40 worth of tools from a local department store.

Police arrested Gladstone Green after he stole two pairs of pliers and a hammer, all valued at $49.76, from Kelly’s Home Centre Ltd on January 18.

After pleading guilty to the offence before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans, Green told the court he was sorry for his “stupid” actions.

He claimed he was “under the influence’’ when he committed the act and admitted to being an alcoholic.

He also asked the court to help him get drug counselling.

However, in response, Magistrate Vogt-Evans said he was a “big, grown” man who could have sought help on his own if he truly wanted to change his ways.

She also took note of his antecedents, noting that Green was ordered by the court to attend drug counselling before after being caught with drugs in the past.

“You have to do better,” she said.

As a result, he was ordered to spend three months in prison. Green was also told to request assistance while there.

Neville Grant, 26, also appeared in court yesterday to receive sentencing for stealing car parts earlier this month.

Police said that Grant stole a motor vehicle engine and six vehicle undercarriages from Sam’s Auto on Claridge Road on January 15.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence during his first appearance before Magistrate Vogt-Evans earlier this week.

During yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Vogt-Evans said she took into consideration that he did not waste the court’s time and owned up to the offence from the onset.

However, she said the court must send a stern message to would-be offenders that such crimes will not be tolerated. As a result, he was sentenced to six months behind bars.

Another man, Jermaine Smith, 26, was also arraigned in court yesterday after being accused of removing a man’s vehicle without his consent.

The court was told that sometime between 3.30pm and 4pm on January 15, Claudius Burrows reported to police that he was cleaning his father’s van shortly before Smith took the vehicle.

Burrows said while cleaning, he decided to go inside the house, leaving the car key in the ignition.

However, shortly afterwards, he heard someone screaming that a “crazy” boy had taken the car, which he later discovered to be true.

The court was told that a few hours later, the defendant returned the vehicle.

However, at that point, Burrows’ father had already made a complaint to police, resulting in Smith’s arrest.

During yesterday’s hearing, Smith pleaded guilty to the offence, telling the court he was only borrowing the car to get a “couple things.”

He also told the senior magistrate that Mr Burrows would often lend him the car.

However, Smith said he believed Mr Burrows intentionally wanted him behind bars so he could have sexual intercourse with his mother.

After accepting Smith’s guilty plea, Magistrate Vogt Evans ordered him to compensate the virtual complainant $200 to avoid spending a month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.