Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter
A man accused of stealing a bicycle was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court recently.
Charged with simple larceny is 26-year-old Onazan Bennett of Greenwich Farm in St Andrew, who pleaded guilty to the offence.
Allegations are that on April 2, about 12 p.m., the 19-year-old complainant left his bicycle valued at $11,000, outside a Digicel retail outlet on Half-Way Tree Road, and went inside to purchase a mobile phone. The complainant returned to the spot where the bicycle was parked, and saw the accused riding off.
The court heard that the complainant gave chase, alerting nearby police officers who joined in the pursuit.
The complainant told the court that the accused man appeared determined to steal the bicycle, and that he did not falter while making his escape. Police personnel were able to apprehend the accused.
Urging Bennett to provide a reasonable explanation, the senior resident magistrate quizzed him as to why he should not serve time for the offence. Bennett then said it was an act of desperation, as he had discovered that he had a cyst near his right armpit that required an expensive x-ray.
Acknowledging that the offence carried a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment, the sitting magistrate sentenced Bennett to serve 30 days in prison, since the bicycle was returned to the complainant in fair condition.
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Bicycle thief gets thirty days
