A vagrant who admitted guilt to a charge of break-in and larceny and claimed that he stole to pay for food was sentenced to 18 months in jail on Monday.
Mark Birch, 41, a father of one, of Princes Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, made an appearance before Magistrate Rhondell Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Between November 17 and 20, at Regent Street, Georgetown, he broke into Hazel Thompson’s home, while accompanied by others, and stole a quantity of clothing and shoes worth a combined $900,000, a TCL television valued at $100,000, and a microwave valued at $50,000.
During his court appearance, he provided the presiding Magistrate with an explanation for his actions, telling her, “I was really hungry. I just take two things. I tek the microwave, my worship. I apologise for what I have done. Be lenient with me.”
According to the Police Prosecutor, Birch is a vagrant who resides in Bourda Market, Georgetown. The prosecution said that on November 17, after the victim left for the United States of America, her son-in-law locked up her Regent Street home, leaving her belongings inside.
On November 20, nevertheless, the man went back to the property and discovered that the house had been broken into, multiple goods were stolen, and several louvre panes had been removed.
He informed the Police of the break-in immediately and surveillance footage from the residence showed Birch and two other males breaking into Thompson’s home and carting off the items.
The prosecutor said that Brich took Police officers to the location of the television after admitting to the crime. None of the other items were found.
Birch’s prior conviction for a comparable offence and the frequency of the house break-ins were taken into account by the Magistrate, who sentenced him to 18 months in jail.
Magistrate Weever commenced the sentence at a starting point of 24 months but deducted six months for his early guilty plea. Birch had served six months in prison for the earlier crime.
