Jail for stealing cellphone

In passing sentence on Donnie James, Magistrate Alicia Chankar scolded him for selling the stolen phone.

“I know times are hard and people are struggling, but that in no way means you can take something that is not yours.” James pleaded guilty to stealing the Samsung J7 valued at $2,000 from Daniel Johnson on Tuesday in the parking lot of Jing’s Supermarket at Southern Main Road, Marabella.

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan said, Johnson parked his car and went into the supermarket at about 6.30pm. He returned about 15 minutes later and discovered his phone missing from the front passenger seat.

A report was made to the Marabella Police Station and PC Ramlal conducted investigations. The court heard police viewed surveillance footage provided by the supermarket. On Thursday police arrested James who admitted to stealing the phone.

Unrepresented by an attorney yesterday, he told Chankar he sold the phone to get cash to make a down payment on a place to rent. The unemployed man said he is on welfare but did not get his cheque on time. He said he has a disability which renders him unable to work.

Last year on March 11, a San Fernando magistrate had sentenced him to serve two years in prison with hard labour for marijuana possession.

Six days earlier, another magistrate reprimanded and discharged him for stealing clothing off a clothesline.