A 43-year-old man who pleaded for mercy after admitting to a theft charge has been handed a three-month suspended sentence.
However, if Anthony Cherubin, of no fixed place of abode, is found guilty of any other crimes during that period, he could still find himself behind bars.
Cherubin, who is known to the court, but has managed to keep himself out of trouble with the law for the past 14 years, was given the reprieve that he so desperately sought when he appeared before Acting Magistrate Sandra Rawlins today.
Cherubin pleaded guilty to breaking into Bear Necessities and Hardware store sometime between July 25 and 26 and stealing $60 in cash, two tins of tuna, two Big Franks, a tin of corned beef and 50 packets of wrappers belonging to Chelston Byer.
The store owner, who usually gives Cherubin odd jobs as well as money and food, locked his business on July 25, but discovered the items missing when he returned the following day.
Police were called in and Cherubin was arrested. He subsequently admitted to the crime.
However, none of the stolen items was recovered.
“The man Byer, he was helping me out for true. . . but at one point he stopped because nothing was not stirring. The bills were coming . . . and things just got a little desperate. I know what I did was wrong and if Mr Byer was here I would apologize to him. I asking for little mercy,” the accused man said.
The acting magistrate heard his plea and advised him to stay out of trouble before letting him go.