A 23-year-old man, who is known for breaking into houses, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Kemar Dorian Clarke of Ashby Alley, Nelson Street, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick today where he pleaded guilty to a charge of entering the home of I-zion Clarke as a trespasser on September 4 and stealing a $350 bicycle, a $45 bicycle pump, a $75 belt and a $150 bottle of perfume.
The homeowner reportedly returned home on the day in question to discover that the kitchen window, which he had closed, was open and the items missing.
Police later executed a search warrant at Clarke’s home where the items were found.
Today, even before Clarke’s lawyer could mitigate on his behalf, the magistrate revealed that the accused had spent time in prison for breaking into homes.
However, attorney Mohia Ma’at sought to explain that his client was a “heavy user of marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine” and that “he got into all of this because of grief”.
The attorney further explained that his client was “devastated” after his grandmother, who he was close to, passed away back in April at the age of 98.
However, Frederick was not willing to entertain this excuse. He suggested that “fellas come and use any excuse [but] grandmothers are sticklers to rules” .
“I think he [Clarke] is a danger to society as it is and he is a danger to himself because he may break into the wrong person’s house and he won’t be here. In fact he is a danger to anyone who has a house. He is not learning and he came back here charged with three offences,” Frederick added.
Clarke is also accused of entering the home of Jean Ori as a trespasser on August 28 and stealing a pair of bangles worth $300, a bracelet worth $260, a slave band worth $300, two watches worth $400, a necklace and earring set worth $640, a necklace worth $200, a $100 chain, ten pairs of earrings worth $350 and four rings worth $250.
He also alleged to have entered the home of Joshua Hall on the same day and stealing a laptop valued $1,485 and a tablet valued at $299. However, he denied committing those offences.
In his own plea for leniency, Clarke told the magistrate that he needed help “before it gets any worse. Psychiatric help with a nurse or something so”.
However, the magistrate informed him that he could get the help if he so desired while at Dodds prison in St Philip.
“I still will come back out and do the same thing,” Clarke then declared, adding “well, well, well, God don’t sleep”, to which the magistrate replied: “Why you think you are here?”
He returns to court on October 27 to answer to the outstanding offences.
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