Magistrate gives bicycle to youth

Magistrate Rickie Burnett did something on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court that has person lauding him for his actions.{{more}}

A 16-year-old boy from Georgetown was brought to the court for stealing a bicycle and was remanded in custody until the following day for sentencing.

The boy had appeared before Burnett on two previous occasions – also for stealing bicycles.

On the first occasion, SEARCHLIGHT understands that he was reprimanded and discharged and on the second, he was sentenced to community service at the Georgetown Police Station.

When he appeared in court again for a third time before Burnett on Monday, the boy was charged with stealing a bicycle, which had been in custody at the Georgetown Police, while he was serving his community service sentence.

SEARCHLIGHT was told that the boy, who is the subject of parental neglect, would ride the bikes all over Georgetown.

SEARCHLIGHT understands, that the magistrate, on Monday, made arrangements to purchase a bicycle for the youngster.

However, when the call was made to the bicycle outlet and the circumstances surrounding the case were told, the bicycle outlet decided that they would donate one to the teenager.

SEARCHLIGHT also understands that the youngster has not yet received his bicycle.

Although he is being reward with a bicycle, magistrate Burnett placed the teenager on a bond for the offence.

One lawyer also commented on the matter, through social media network Facebook.

Attorney Kezron Walters posted, “… I was happy however to be able to witness magistrate Rickie Burnett exercise his discretion in sentencing. One particular young man at aged sixteen for the third time was being convicted of theft of a bicycle. The learned Magistrate while punishing him made a way for him to have his own bicycle and paved the way for him to get employment. We really need to commence discourse on these ills of society.”

The bicycle should be handed over the boy in the coming weeks.