A 43-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in jail after he admitted to breaking and entering a home and stealing $105,000 in items.
Kevin Gray, of Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Park, was read the charge by Magistrate Sunil Scarce.
The charge stated that on June 20, at Lot 95 Dennis Street, Campbellville, he broke and entered the home of Taneka Joaquin and stole a TCL flat screen television set valued at $80,000, and an Acer Tablet valued at $25,000.
After the charge was read to the accused, he initially told the court that he was guilty with an explanation. Gray said that on the day in question he was asked by someone he knew to do some work. According to the accused, who works as a baggage man at Bourda Market, when he went with the individual, there were things packed up in bags, along with a television set. Gray told the court that he was asked to take the items to Pike Street, Kitty and on his way there he was stopped by the police and told that the items were stolen.
The prosecution presented a different story to the court, noting that around 2pm on the day in question, the defendant was seen kicking down the defendant’s door. Sometime after, Gray was seen leaving the home with the items in a bag. While allegedly attempting to escape, the defendant was seen by the police and dropped the bag and ran away. He was later caught and admitted to the offence.
As a result of the prosecution’s facts the Magistrate entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the accused.
However, the defendant begged the court to allow him to plead guilty, stating that if he were to be granted bail he would not be able to pay it. Gray added that he has no family or friends to bail him out and he would prefer to serve a sentence.
As a result, the charge was reread to the accused and a guilty plea was entered.
Subsequently, the Magistrate told Gray that having considered his early plea and the fact that the items were recovered he will serve an 18-month sentence for the crime.
