A 56-year-old man who was found guilty of stealing tools from a car was fined $25,000 with an alternative of 12 months imprisonment when he appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Keith Noel of Republic Road, Agricola was charged with the theft of one paint brush, one chisel and one spanner valued at $3,900, which he stole from the car of Osborne Peters. Noel said he was tired and needed somewhere to sleep so he went into the car and fell asleep in the back seat.

He said, however, that he did not steal anything but was severely beaten by Peters.

According to the prosecution, Noel is a regular thief and should not get off easily since he makes this a practice. Noel himself said that he used to steal in his younger days but stopped because he has grandchildren and begged the magistrate to be lenient with him.