Chocolate bar thief given suspended sentence in Magistrates' Court

Christopher Chesty, 47, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to shoplifting when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard from Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale that on Saturday, Chesty entered the Crawl Hill Tiger Market and stole three chocolate bars.

The gas station manager saw Chesty leave the store without paying for the items and alerted Police who where on patrol in the area. He was arrested and taken to Southside Police station for processing.

Chesty has previous convictions of similar offences. In court he said to Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: "I vowed last time that I would not be here again and here I am. I'm getting help for my problem. I have no money and I was hungry that's why I took the chocolates. If I had financial assistance then I would be able to by food."

Chesty said he was involved in the Focus program for drug and alcohol treatment. He was given a three month suspended sentence for 24 months.

Man stole from his grandmother

Donielle Richardson, of Horseshoe Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty yesterday in Magistrates' Court to burglary.

The court heard from Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale that Richardson's grandmother had observed him laying on the ground, seemingly sleeping, in front of her door when she was on her way out.

She told him to get up and not to break into her house once she was gone. Richardson replied: "Leave me alone, F*** you!"

When Richardson's grandmother returned to the home, she noticed it had been broken into and items where missing, particularly $20 worth of coins. She then called the Police.

Richardson was later arrested and taken to Somerset Police Station where he admitted to the offences stating that he only took a shower and got something to eat. The 27-year-old has previous convictions, which date back to 1997, and is currently on probation. He was given a six month suspended sentence for 24 months.