Two men pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court yesterday to separate incidents at Arnold supermarkets.

Raymond Troy Spencer pleaded guilty to stealing from Arnold’s Family Market in Pembroke, stealing a DVD from Double W Home Entertainment and for possession of drug equipment.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told court that on October 30, 2006, Spencer entered Arnold’s Family Market, went to the health and body section and then attempted to leave.

The manager followed Spencer, saw him put bottles of body spray and body wash in his jacket and when he was asked to empty his pockets, Spencer struggled with the manager until the Police arrived.

Earlier in the month, on October 8, Spencer was arrested for stealing a DVD and on September 18 last year uniformed Police arrested Spencer for possession of drug paraphernalia in Pembroke.

Ken Mathew, an addiction counsellor at a drug rehabilitation organisation the Trust Recovery Center, told the court: “I have been working with him in the last couple of months and he has had drug tests and cleared all of them.”

In his defence Spencer said: “Everything on my record is drug related and I have some trust issues, but I am ready for drug rehabilitation.”

Mr. Warner sentenced Spencer to 12 months probation for each of the three charges on the condition that he submits to drug testing and the matter will be reviewed in three months.

Also in court for harassment was Cannoth William Roberts, of no fixed abode, who pleaded guilty to using threatening words towards the manager, Gordon Allingham, of Arnold’s Supermarket in Sandys.

Mr. Bannister told the court how on December 5, 2006, Mr. Allingham saw Roberts standing outside the store and staring inside.

Roberts had been banned for continually harassing customers and employees of the store with a letter from the store manager, but refused Mr. Allingham’s repeated requests to leave the premises.

The court heard that Roberts said: “You’re not Bermudian. You can’t tell me what to do. I will get you. I will kill you.”

In court Roberts said: “I was under the influence of hell and I would like to apologise.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said he was tired of dealing with Roberts who had been sent a letter from the supermarket and has been told repeatedly not to be on the property.

Mr. Warner sentenced Roberts, who is already in custody on an unrelated matter, to 30 days in jail to serve consecutively.

Earlier this month a man who repeatedly harassed the Happy Valley Mini Mart was jailed for three years after attempting to steal money from the supermarket.

Joseph DaCosta, owner of the Mini-Mart, said those who were harassing stores should be given longer sentences and suggested photos posted in the stores might deter any who choose to repeat the offence.

Kevin Rock, manager of Arnold’s Family Market in Pembroke, is not sure that would be enough.

He said: “The sentencing doesn’t matter. It is not a matter of shame so I don’t know if photos would work. It’s almost as if these guys are wearing it like a badge.”

Mr. Rock also estimated that the Arnold’s Family Market has sent 20 letters banning people from the premises, but it didn’t seem to matter as people treated it as a game.

“It doesn’t matter if they serve time, it doesn’t mean anything and even with a restriction order you need to be able to recognise them, so maybe photos would be helpful, but there also needs to be a general change in attitude.”