Magistrate tells teen he’s beyond reform

A teenager was on Thursday sentenced to four years in prison after he was deemed beyond reform.

“There is no hope of redemption, you are hopeless, I have to protect society,” said magistrate Bertie Pompey yesterday at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, as he sentenced Jason Delpesche to four years in prison for burglary and theft.

Delpesche pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and theft between August 7 and August 11, and one count of receiving stolen property and explained that he is “cursed”.

“Something is on me. I does do thing and regret after.”

Pompey said that he has heard all sorts of defence, but he has never heard this defence before. Pompey, in handing down the sentence, noted that the defendant had nine previous charges, all for dishonesty and he was beyond reform.

“There is no hope, we can’t reform you and we have to confine the beast in you. I give up. We have to keep you in custody for a long, long time.”

The 19-year-old was charged that on August 7, he did steal $50 from Deah James of Chateaubelair and one black Sony Xperia cellular phone, valued at US$300, the property of Elroy Wilson.

Delpesche was also charged that on August 8, he did enter The News newspaper building and steal an iPhone 6+, an iPhone 6+ phone case and a black handbag, along with $120 in cash, totalling $2,215, the property of Sylvia Sutherland, the accountant for The News newspaper.

He was further charged that on August 9, he did burglarize Perfection Beauty Salon, owned by Janelle Lewis of Lowmans Hill and steal property valued at $4,885. On August 11, Delpesche was also charged with stealing one purse and its contents, which include a driver’s licence, one cheque book and $110 in cash, the property of Neeka Anderson-Isaacs.

He was also charged with receiving stolen goods, a blue Samsung Galaxy phone, the property of Jeanie Ollivierre of Cane Garden.

Prosecutor Station Sergeant Elgin Richards told the court that the defendant is a repeat offender, who was just released from prison two weeks prior, so a custodial sentence would be best.

Delpesche was sentenced to two years in prison for both incidents on August 7; three years for the incident on August 8; four years for the incident on August 9, two years for the incident on August 11 and 18 months for the incident on August 22. The sentences will run concurrently.(JWC)