An 18-year-old man who admitted to stealing an iPhone 10 valued at $150,000 because he was “broke”, was on Wednesday sentenced to five months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Chain snatcher Miguel Blackman
John Cameron pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on April 17, 2021, at McDoom, Public Road, Greater Georgetown, he stole one black iPhone X, property of Darren Lord.
Facts presented by the court prosecutor stated that, on April 17, Lord parked his Canter truck at his residence, leaving his phone inside the vehicle. When he returned and made checks, he noticed that his cell phone was missing. As a result, he reviewed CCTV footage from his home, which showed Cameron removing the iPhone from the truck. Lord lodged a report with the Ruimveldt Police Station, and Cameron was later arrested and charged.
While in Police custody, the prosecutor said, Cameron admitted to stealing the phone. According to the prosecutor, Cameron told detectives that he sold the phone to someone who works at a mall on Robb Street, Georgetown. However, when the Police contacted the individual, he denied buying the phone from Cameron.
When given a chance to address the court, Cameron said he stole the phone because he was “broke”, as a result of no one wanting to hire him.
In sentencing the phone thief to five months’ imprisonment, the Chief Magistrate considered the fact that he pleaded guilty to the offence at the first instance, and did not waste the court’s time.
Meanwhile, in another case, 23-year-old Miguel Blackman appeared before the Chief Magistrate on a similar charge. The Red Road, Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident admitted that on May 15, 2021, at Water Street Georgetown, he stole a gold chain valued at $ 60,000 from Trevannah Haywood.
The Police prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, Haywood was walking in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market area when Blackman approached her and snatched her chain from around her neck.
The court heard that the woman chased after Haywood, who eventually fell. Public-spirited citizens came to her aid and apprehended Blackman, and escorted him to the Stabroek Police Outpost.
“I had a rough life growing up, and no one by my side,” Blackman said as he pleaded with the Chief Magistrate for leniency.
Blackman told the court that he became frustrated and stole the woman’s chain because a man from whom he borrowed money was asking him to return it.
He also apologised to Haywood. He told her, “I am sorry.”
In the end, the Chief Magistrate upbraided Blackman for his actions, and told him that nothing in life comes easy. She advised him that he should consider taking a loan from the bank or other financial institutions should he need money in the future.
Blackman, a father of two, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for the crime. (G1)
