House burglar to learn his fate today

Ronald Douglas will know his fate today, after pleading guilty to stealing over EC$5000 in various currencies including pounds sterling, US dollars and local currency.{{more}}

The eighteen-year-old resident of Richland Park appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 12, 2010, and was charged with entering the home of Rosalyn Creese of Dorsetshire Hill and stealing 2,970 pounds, US$2,601 and EC$200. He also stole two gold chains and two gold rings. Douglas pleaded guilty to the offence which occured between August 14, 2009 and February 10, 2010.

He was also charged with stealing a Nokia cell phone on June 27, 2009. He pleaded not guilty and Senior Magistrate Donald Browne later stated that bail would not be considered for this offence.

Facts read in court stated that Creese, who resides in England, travels occassionaly from England to her home in St. Vincent. Creese left the state on August 14, 2009. She returned shortly after, and noticed nothing amiss at her home. However, on February 10, 2010, she checked the safe in her home and found the items and the cash missing.

Creese questioned the gentleman whom she left in charge of her home while she was away. The man said that he had not taken the items, but refered to Douglas, who he said accompanied him to the home while she was gone. Douglas was arrested by police and admitted that he had stolen the items.

Prosecutor Sergeant Glenford Greggs said that one of the gold chains was sold to the Venezuelans who offer “money for gold’ and the other was given away. They were able to recover the two gold rings. The money was spent by Douglas.

“I think he should be given a heavy custodial sentence for his dishonesty,” Greggs said.

Douglas told Browne that he visited the home occasionally, adding that he works with Creese’s boyfriend.

Reappearing in court on Tuesday, Douglas told the court that he did not steal the money, even though police reports say that he admitted to stealing the cash and items.

Creese, who was also present in court on Tuesday, said that she could not believe that Douglas would do something like that, adding that she had blamed someone else for the missing money.(OS)