Driver granted $800,000 bail on 2 larceny charges

Twenty-four-year-old driver Condell Padmore was on Tuesday granted a total of $800,000 bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate (Ag.) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he faced two counts of simple larceny allegedly committed on separate occasions.

Padmore, who resides at Lot 106 New Housing Scheme, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, first faced a charge alleging that on November 28, 2025, at Houston, East Bank Demerara, he stole a quantity of textile fabric belonging to Gavin Jeffery valued at $1.4 million. He pleaded not guilty. He was then read a second charge, which stated that on November 26, 2025, at Plantation Road, East Bank Demerara, he stole ten rolls of construction fabric valued at $1.5 million from Shaheed Persaud. He again pleaded not guilty.
In making a bail application on his client’s behalf, attorney Melvin Duke told the court that Padmore was employed as a centre driver and had simply received a call from one of the individuals he worked with, instructing him to pick up and transport textiles from the various locations.
Duke argued that Padmore had no direct knowledge of any wrongdoing and was merely carrying out duties he was assigned. The attorney added that although Padmore had previously been before the court, he had “walked free” and had no pending matters or antecedents. Duke further submitted that the young driver posed no flight risk, noting that his family is well known in the Sparendaam area.
However, the prosecution objected to bail, arguing that the offences were serious and occurred on two separate days, involving high-value items. The prosecutor insisted that Padmore was no stranger to the system, stating that he had previously faced matters “including robbery and simple larceny”.
The court also heard that investigators have obtained video footage captured on one of the days in question, allegedly showing Padmore in the same van that was used to transport the stolen goods. According to the prosecution, the virtual complainant never instructed anyone to remove the items, and there were additional concerns for the safety of the virtual complainant.
Still, when questioned by the Magistrate, the prosecution were unable to say whether Padmore had ever been convicted or sentenced in any of the matters they mentioned, nor could they present evidence demonstrating that he posed a real risk of failing to return to court. This prompted the Magistrate to ask the prosecution whether their objections were based on concrete material that could satisfy the court that Padmore was likely to abscond, a requirement in determining whether bail should be denied.
Padmore was given an opportunity to speak. He told the court that he was instructed by his employer to pick up the textiles and drop them off at the locations he described. He said the first set of items was delivered to a location he knew only as a “north-east” area, not far from Cemetery Road, and that the second batch was dropped off in an “east” location. He explained that he does not know Georgetown well because he is from the East Coast and simply followed instructions. He added that after he was arrested, he took officers to one of the drop-off points, and Police were able to recover some of the items.
The prosecution, however, contradicted this claim, insisting that none of the stolen materials were recovered. The Magistrate then asked the accused to assist the Police fully in locating the drop-off points so that the remaining items might be retrieved.
After considering the submissions, Magistrate McGusty granted bail for $400,000 on each charge, amounting to $800,000 in total.  He is expected to report to the Agricola Police Station every third Friday of each month and return to court on January 14.