A man who stole machinery valued $180,000 from his brother to get his attention because he wanted a job was sentenced to community service when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan last week.
The court heard that between October 8 and 9, Joseph Smith, 28, of Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, broke and entered a storage bond and stole a generator and a pressure washer from Andrew Dublin, who is his brother.
Pleading guilty to the offence, Smith told the chief magistrate that he stole from his brother to get his attention, so that he would give him a job.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers related that the virtual complainant had secured his storage room at Lot 55 Nelson Street, Mocha and retired to bed. In the morning, Dublin observed that the lock on his storage room was broken and the articles were missing. The prosecutor said the virtual complainant reported the matter to the Providence Police Station and an investigation was launched, following which the police made contact with Smith who led them to the articles.
Smith told the court that he stole from his brother because he wanted him to give him a “wuk.” He told Magistrate McLennan, “I have no job, mom and he does normally give me a wuk, mom.”
However, Dublin said his brother never asked him for a job. He described his brother as someone who is not focused. “From small when he get a job, he never focus, always riding around on his bike when he has work to do. He’s not focused,” Dublin told the court.
The chief magistrate told Smith that his plan was not properly thought out since it landed him in court. She cautioned him to sit down and think carefully before he does things. She also told him to focus and to get his life together.
Saying that she has decided to give him a chance, Magistrate McLennan then sentenced Smith to serve eight weeks of community service and if he defaults, six months in jail.
