Play Whe thief gets jail

A MAN who yesterday admitted to a San Fernando magistrate he stole money and Play Whe and Pick Two tickets from the pockets of another man, was jailed for a year despite begging repeatedly for mercy. Mervyn Bradshaw, 56, of Picadilly Street in Port-of-Spain, threw himself at the mercy of the First San Fernando Magistrates’ Court, which was presided over by deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington. The magistrate was not moved and gave Bradshaw a 12-month jail sentence. Bradshaw, the court heard, has a long criminal history, having some 20 convictions, five of them being perpetrated within the past ten years. The five convictions were for charges of larceny — the same charge for which he appeared in court.

According to prosecutor Sgt Harold Seedharie, Bradshaw was caught stealing from Sham Hasmatali of South Oropouche at around 10 am on November 2. PC Khan of the San Fernando City Police was on mobile patrol when he heard someone shout, “Thief, thief!” PC Khan responded and Hasmatali reported that someone put a hand in his pocket and pulled out Play Whe and Pick Two tickets, a $20 bill and a piece of paper on which he had written a phone number. The victim then pointed out Bradshaw. PC Khan stopped and searched Bradshaw a short distance away and found the items which belonged to Hasmatali. Bradshaw was taken to San Fernando CID and charged with larceny.