Despite his plea for a non-custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to theft, Magistrate Michael Laudat sentenced 33-year-old Jeddy Matthew of Morne Jaune/Tarish Pit to four months in jail.
Matthew is no stranger to the court having a long list of convictions dominated by theft.
According to the facts of the case, Chinese national Sally Zoe is the owner of C &V Friendship Store located on Old Street in Roseau and they also reside on the compound which is equipped with cameras.
On the evening of May 27, 2022, the couple secured the building at 5 pm and went to bed. At about 3:40 am on May 28, 2022, they were awakened to a sound and upon examination of the building, saw a young man climbing the gate with a case of Coke and a bag of toys. They immediately called the police who arrived and searched the premises and its surroundings, but the intruder was not found.
Later that day May 28, 2022, he was met and arrested by the police and questioned and stated, “Officer, Coke, and toys I climb the yard and take, I sell the Coke for ten dollars to get money to buy food.”
The items were not recovered and were valued at $372.00.
In his plea in mitigation, Matthew begged the court for another chance. “I will get a job, I am a good boy, I will go to church, please spare me I won’t come back again,” he pleaded.
But after looking at his conviction sheet, Magistrate Laudat said he needed to be sent to “Stock Farm Prison to think.”
“You must leave people’s things alone, you are sentenced to four (4) months in jail,” he said. The maximum sentence for theft is 7 years in jail.