Sorry thief gets 12 months

After changing his plea and confessing to theft, an unemployed man was sentenced to 12 months at HMP Dodds yesterday.

Junior Nathaniel Beckles, 54, of Combermere Street, The City, admitted robbing Tyrone Beckles (no relation) of $800, US$56, an $80 watch and a $500 cell phone on April 17.

He had originally denied the charge and was on remand after prosecutor Sergeant Samuel Hinds had objected to bail.

Beckles had been on bail on another matter – a serious bodily harm charge.

However, when he reappeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday, he had a change of heart.

Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told the court the complainant was socialising at New York Club in Nelson Street, The City. He was getting a drop home, and while in the passenger seat of the vehicle, Beckles and another man tried to put a bag over his head.

A struggle ensued, and one man cuffed him in the face, bursting the upper lip. Beckles pushed a hand in the complainant’s left pants pocket and removed his cell phone, before he helped himself to money in the right pocket. He then removed the watch before the two escaped. Beckles was later picked out in an identification parade.

“I plead guilty because I do it, Ma’am. I don’t know why I do it. I don’t normally walk in a court and plead guilty. I choose to plead guilty because he is a Beckles. I really sorry. I really sincerely sorry for this one, and I asking the court for a chance or probation or something,” he told the magistrate.

Not suitable

However, Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant told Beckles he was not a suitable candidate for probation or community service.

“I’m asking that whatever sentence, Ma’am, that it don’t be no big long sentence. I already spend one month on remand,” he continued.

“Last time you were sentenced, I sentenced you where you spent four months on remand. You made the same moving bail application,” the magistrate told Beckles before sentencing him to 18 months.

“One time I would say thanks for the 18 months, but at 54 [years old], 18 months, Ma’am?” Beckles cried.

After his plea, the magistrate reduced the sentence to 12 months in jail. (RA)