A 21-year-old employee of National Hardware (Guyana) Ltd appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday to answer a charge of simple larceny after he was accused of stealing a door lock from his employer.
The court was told that on October 20 the accused Deandre Allen stole one door lock valued $2,278 property of National Hardware. The defendant pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and he received a suspended sentence.
In presenting the facts Prosecutor Jairam Lukhai told the court that on the day in question at about 17:00 hrs the security guard at National Hardware was conducting routine checks when the door lock was discovered in the haversack which the accused had in his possession. A report was made and the defendant was subsequently charged.
When asked by the court the reason for his actions the defendant stated, “I had bills to pay, school bill to pay… rent to pay… that was the reason why I stole the lock.”
The magistrate took both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances into consideration in handing down a suspended sentence to the accused.
She stressed to the defendant that in the next two years he will have to lead a good life and must not have any problems with the law and be a productive citizen. She added that he should understand that if he commits any offence that is punishable by imprisonment he will be punished. The defendant was also told by the court that he has to compensate the store for the article.
