A destitute handyman was on Wednesday ordered to perform community service after confessing to stealing items from his employer.
Eion Moses, 47, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was read the charge that between February 13th and February 14th, at Alexander Street, Kitty, he stole items amounting to a total of $143,800, and which were the property of Ethan Curtis.
The accused, who told the court that he is destitute because of his cocaine addiction, said that he stole the items because the man allowed him. He explained that the man who employed him during the Christmas season and didn’t pay him, was standing on his verandah when he removed the items from a barrel in the yard. He also said that the man told him that other items in the barrel had been removed and that since he (the accused) is considered to be the security of the yard, it was his responsibility and that he would beat him because the items were removed. Moses further said that he sold the bed sheet and other few items for $1,700.
However, the police prosecutor said that Curtis put the items in a barrel and secured it then he left it in his yard. He later discovered that someone had removed the items from the barrel. After checking the surveillance cameras set up in the yard, it was revealed that the accused jumped his fence and stole the items from the barrel.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan asked the man how he became addicted to cocaine and whether he would like to sober up. Moses said he wanted to and added that it is why he is working toward being welcomed back into his family’s home.
Moses was then ordered by the Chief Magistrate to perform 180 hours of community service or in default, serve three weeks imprisonment.
