Jason Omar Taylor’s lengthy conviction card did not prevent him from securing his freedom today.
Despite 27 burglary convictions and two for loitering, Magistrate Douglas Frederick still granted him bail when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, charged with another loitering offence.
The 36-year-old truck driver, of 142 Pillars Development, Grazettes, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to loitering on the premises occupied by Lewis Mounter while being unable to give a satisfactory account of himself.
Prosecutor Sergeant Rudy Pilgrim objected to Taylor’s bail on the grounds that it was a serious offence; that he had multiple convictions for burglary and a couple for loitering; and for fear that if he was granted bail he would reoffend.
However, his Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim appeared somewhat shocked that the prosecution had raised concerns about his client being granted bail.
“I didn’t think there would be an objection,” he said while pointing out that Taylor had not been before the court since 2014 and while he had previous troubles with alcohol addiction, he had attended Verdun House and had also completed several other programmes.
Pilgrim said his client was gainfully employed and had no reason to steal. Furthermore, he had no matters before the courts.
The magistrate agreed that loitering was “on the lower scale of serious charges” and said he would not want to interrupt Taylor’s work.
He then granted him bail in the sum of $1,500 and ordered him to return to court on October 3, 2018.
The post Taylor makes bail despite lengthy conviction record appeared first on Barbados Today.