AN 18-YEAR-old who says he dropped out of school after the pandemic hit, as he has not been doing any online schooling, now has a criminal record for burglarising a family member’s home.

The youngster was imprisoned pending his sentence, which will be handed down today, October 1, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court(KMC).

Lydon Bynoe of Old Montrose said on Monday, September 27, that he is guilty of, on September 24, at Old Montrose, entering the dwelling house of Charmine Bynoe as a trespasser, stealing her green purse valued at $60, which contained $67 dollars in coins.

According to investigations, Charmine, who is the defendant’s cousin, lives on the same property as Lydon. However, they live in separate homes.

Last Friday, September 24, at 7:30 a.m, Charmine left her home secured and the purse in her bedroom. At 1:50 p.m she received a phone call informing her that her cousin had been seen going through her bedroom window and emerging through it again. When she arrived, Charmine discovered that her purse was missing.

During the following weekend the police took the young man into custody and executed a search warrant at his home and premises. They did not find anything. After an interview, Lydon took them to a nearby house and shortcut where he had thrown the purse. However, the contents of the purse were not found.

A written statement was given by the 18-year-old admitting to the offence.

The court on occasion asks offenders questions to ascertain certain information before sentencing.

In this case, Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett, having heard the defendant’s age, inquired whether he had gone to a Secondary School. It is not uncommon that persons coming before the court inform that they dropped out of school as a minor.

At first Lydon said that he dropped out of school at form 4. He explained, “School ain bin keeping” clarifying, “How the Corona I never go back school.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to take the world by storm in early 2020, face-to-face learning became something that was impossible. Schools all across the globe adapted by settling for online classes/assignments.

The 2021/2022 school year was tentatively set to commence October 4, with face-toface learning, but a high rise of COVID-19 positive cases has pressured authorities to make adjustments.

The Senior Magistrate told the defendant that there was online schooling taking place, to which the teen responded that he “Never do that.”

“I’m aware that some students who were in school have not been participating in online school so I mean that’s it for some of them…,” the Judicial

Officer contemplated. “…There have some students who are not really accessing the online classes and that is a reality it seems.”

Recalling that school was supposed to begin in a week, he pondered, “What are we going to have here?”

Turning to the youngster, he questioned whether he was still enrolled at the Secondary School he had named.

“I ain really too sure yet my honour,” Lydon commented.

“As far as that answer is telling me, you are no longer in school in your mind,” Burnett said.

“No, school ain keeping,” he replied.

“I know school is not keeping face-to-face, what about the online school?” the Senior Magistrate asked. “I never, ever sign up to do that,” the defendant said.

When asked why not, the teen could not give a reason.

Considering the circumstances surrounding the burglary, the court questioned “…Why you want to burglarise your own family place? What that is about, tell me?”.

The teen claimed that they had previously accused him of theft of $700, for which he hadn’t been responsible.

“But this one was you?,” he was asked, “Yes, I telling you the honest truth,” the youngster responded.

“…I’m asking you now, what caused you or what went in to your mind to go into your own family house, remove her purse, she has $67 in coinage, you take out all the coins and maybe you converted them to paper money as they say, and you throw the purse away. What was that about. I want to know what was going on in your head…” the Magistrate queried.

The defendant maintained that it was because they had accused him previously.

The maximum prison sentence for burglary at the Higher Court level is 14 years. Lydon was asked how many of these years he wanted.

“None,” was his reply.

“…When you commit a crime, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences. You understand me?” Burnett told him.

The defendant has not been to prison before.

“..So you are going inside of one until Friday, and when you come back we will have a discussion,” Burnett told him.

Lyndon was remanded until today, October 1.