Labourer remanded on break-in charge after trying to mislead court

A labourer, who is accused of a break-in and theft, was on Monday remanded to prison after trying to mislead a city court.

Andrew Ridley, 29, of Lot 173 Campbell Street, Albouystown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in a Georgetown Court and he pleaded not guilty to the charge that between August 11, and August 12, at Lot 59 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he broke into the dwelling house of Ayanna McKean, and stole items, including textbooks, a cellphone and bags, amounting to $70,240 in value.

Ridley told the court that he was innocent and that he was travelling home when the police arrested him. He further said that he had not faced the courts since 2006.

However, Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell objected to bail and further charged that Ridley was lying to the court.  She explained that in 2019, Ridley was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for a similar offence. The prosecutor added that there is currently a matter awaiting legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions and an ongoing investigation at the Alberttown police station for an attempted murder.

The magistrate then asked Ridley whether he was serving a sentence recently and he said that he was but that he had forgotten to mention it. Ridley then told the court that he was serving a three- year sentence and that he was released from prison over two months ago. He was then denied bail and the matter was adjourned until August 30.