A 66-year-old man on welfare, was on Monday given a six-month suspended sentence for stealing $25 in thyme from businessman T’Challa Howell.
Charles Dennis Gilkes of Salter’s Main Road, St Michael told the court that he steals to satisfy his hunger when his welfare cheque is late, and he has nothing to eat.
“When the time comes and I don’t get my cheque, I have nothing to eat. The hunger had me…,” he told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor, Rudolph Boyce, explained that Howell noticed over time that herbs would go missing and he decided to install CCTV to catch the thief.
On July 14, 2024, around 12:55 a.m., Howell received an alert on his phone from the CCTV he had installed near his business. Upon reviewing the footage, he observed a man carrying a torchlight. Howell went to his property, confronted the man, and detained him. He then contacted the police, leading to the arrest and charging of Gilkes.
The magistrate asked Gilkes if he had sought help from any relatives before committing the theft.
“I do not like doing what I have to do,” the man with 44 convictions told the court.
Weekes scolded Gilkes for his actions, saying that he was tired of excuses. He suggesting there were enough churches around where Gilkes could have gone for help.
“So we are to assist in this behaviour because you don’t have anything to eat? There are too many organisations with feeding programmes,’” the judicial officer said.
“There is this sense of entitlement that I don’t understand. If people are not contributing and the state is helping, you also have to help,” Weekes said, adding that the victims also had families to support.
A six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, was imposed and Gilkes was warned that if he ever found himself in this situation again, he should seek assistance from a church or non-governmental organisation.
“I promise I will not come back,” Gilkes said before leaving the dock
(TS)
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