A 34-year-old man who stole a toilet tank with the intention of selling it on Alexander Street was handed a 12-month sentence when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle on Wednesday.

Bobby Persaud of Riverview, East Bank Demerara pleaded guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny when it was read to him. However, he requested the court to allow him to explain.

On September 15 Persaud broke and entered a building belonging to Milton Graven and stole one toilet tank worth $40,000.

“I ain’t get to carry away anything from de place,” Persaud said. “Plus that man de security guard beat me,” he further stated. When asked by the magistrate whether or not he stole the toilet tank he replied: “I did loose it out but I didn’t get to carry it away.”

The magistrate told Persaud that he had no right to be there. “Why were you there in the first place? Are you a plumber?” she asked him.

According to the prosecution the caretaker secured the building at 6 pm on the evening in question and approximately one hour after Persaud broke and entered the building and stole the toilet tank.

The tank was recovered, the prosecution said, but it was damaged. “I ain’t get far with de thing,” Persaud told the court, “I took it by Alexander Street to sell it. Dem man there does buy it,” he explained.

Persaud was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.