A self-confessed drug addict told the court, “what the charge say that is exactly what I do” when he pleaded guilty to breaking and entering with larceny, attempted felony and escape from lawful custody in court yesterday.
Bevon French, 37, of 143 Crown Street, Queenstown broke and entered the house of Tendai Barrington and stole one microwave valued $20,000, one stereo set valued $150,000 and a pair of boots valued $10,000, a total value of $240,000.
On February 1 at the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost, being in legal custody, French escaped.
On February 4 at Georgetown, French attempted to break and enter the day care premises of Paula Raphael.
After pleading guilty to all the charges, French told Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson that he was a recovering addict but had relapsed “and I never really catch back meself after now.”
He told the court, “What the charge say that is exactly what I do.” Regarding the break and enter charge, he told the magistrate that he had broken the board of the inside stairs of Barrington with a hammer and went into his place. French lives in the flat below Barrington.
He told the magistrate that he sold the microwave for $15,000 and the stereo set for $35,000. He said he could not remember where he had placed the boots but he assured her that he had not sold it.
When asked what he did with the money, French told the magistrate that he spent most of it on cocaine.
French who was cuffed at the ankles fidgeted with the links telling the magistrate that it was tight. When asked why he was chained, Assistant Superintendent of Police Denise Griffith explained that he had a habit of jumping fences and he may try to escape from the court.
Griffith told the court that after French was arrested for break and enter with larceny, he was at the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost and asked to use the toilet.
His request was granted and he went through the back door, jumped the outpost’s fence and made good his escape. He was later caught trying to break into the day care by police.
However, French was quick to clarify what really happened while at the outpost, telling the magistrate, “I been telling you the truth and all I done… but I was lying in the cell when the officer call me out and asked me to sweep out the yard. I said yes.”
French said he was unsupervised “and I was tempted, yes, to get away. “After sweeping the yard I chose the opportunity to get away. I was burning paper. Just me alone in the yard.
“It tempted me and I just get away and start walking the road.”
He said he came upon the day care place and noticed that a window was cracked and “I practically cracked it some more” before being caught.
After listening to French’s recount of his actions, the magistrate sentenced him to three years for break and enter with larceny, one year for escaping from lawful custody and one year for the attempted felony.
She then explained to French that while he was sentenced to five years, he will only serve three years overall. The one-year sentences will be served concurrently and she further told him that with good behaviour he could serve a little less.