Roger Samuels, who admitted that he had a history of stealing motor cycles, was yesterday sentenced to serve four years in prison after he confessed to his latest theft.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry imposed the sentence on Samuels, 36, of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, who admitted that he stole a motor cycle, numbered CC 58, which was the property of Tony Bentley.
“If I commit a crime, I does plead guilty, ’cause I get ketch, there is nothing I could do bout dah,” Samuels said before his sentencing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Police prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that on November 17, in Georgetown, Bentley parked his motorcycle under the bottom of his house and went to bed.
However, at about 2 am on the day, he was awakened by a noise and when he looked out he found Samuels pushing the bike out of the yard.
Blackman said Bentley immediately called the police and a patrol later confronted Samuels about where he got the bike. He remained silent after they asked to see his licence and registration and he was arrested and charged with the theft.
When allowed to address the court, Samuels said that he removed the bike from under the house and began to push it down the road when police officers saw him and asked him where he was going with the bike and he lied to them.
However, he said yesterday, “I come fah done the story yah worship. I sick and all too. I beg yah, yuh worship, otherwise everything good.”
Samuels also said that a female came and identified the motor cycle at the police station, later picking him out of a line-up at the Brickdam Police Station.
The magistrate then asked Samuels if he had any previous or pending matter within the judicial system.
Samuels said that he was previously charged about three times for stealing motor cycles and served his jail sentences for all the offences.
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry then brought to the man’s attention that the offence carried a prison sentence of up to five years.
“I know ma worship. I been there before. I old school,” Samuels responded.
The magistrate handed down the sentence after taking into consideration the fact that Samuels confessed to the crime and saved the court precious time as well as his previous convictions for similar crimes.
