Theft of snacks and drinks worth less than $250 results in suspended sentence for 20 year old mother

A young woman who stole various items from one store over the course of several days told the magistrate that she was not ready to go to prison. Kemmelia Guy, a 20 year old clerk of Glen, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John, on November 11, 2024, where she pleaded guilty to stealing various items of food and beverage from Richardson Motors in Arnos Vale.

She was charged that on October 21, 2024, she stole two BBQ Lays Chips valued at $6.00; two bottles of Tus-t Flavoured Water valued at $6.50; one Arizona tea valued at $5.00; two Fruta 250ml valued at $6.50; one bottle of Coca-Cola valued at $5.00; one Holiday snack valued at $1.50; two packs of Welch valued at $14.00 ; and one Bickles patty valued at $8.75- a total value of EC$53.75.

On October 22, 2024 – Guy was charged with the theft of two Caribbean Dreams valued at $9.50; one bottle of Sprite valued at $4.75; one bottle of Tus-t flavoured water valued at $3.25; one Devon biscuit valued at $3.25; one Bickles patty valued at $8.75; and two fruit slices valued at $20.50- a total value of EC$50.00.

On October 23, 2024 – in a separate incident, Guy stole one Bickles patty valued at $8.75; one bottle of Tus-t flavoured water valued at $3.25; one bottle of Ensure valued at $12.25; one Hyper Malt valued at $4.50; one Caribbean Delight biscuit valued at $4.75; one Devon biscuit valued at $3.25; and one Brownie slice valued at $4.50- a total value of EC$41.25.

On October 24, 2024 – Guy was further charged with stealing one Arizona drink valued at $5.00; one bottle of Ginger Ale valued at $4.75; one bottle of Coca-Cola valued at $5.00; one Dixie biscuit valued at $2.00; one bake and codfish valued at $6.00; one Bickles patty valued at $8.75; and one slice of lasagna valued at $10.50- total value, EC$42.00.

On October 29, 2024, Guy stole one box of Supligen Sea Moss valued at $7.75; one bottle of Tus-t water valued at $3.25; one Hyper Malt valued at $4.50; one burger valued at $13.75; one Bickles patty valued at $8.75; and one 1L Fruta box juice valued at $9.00- a total value of EC $47.00. The combined value of the items amounted to EC $234.00.

The facts are that on October 29, 2024 an employee asked the office manager to review the CCTV cameras because an item had fallen to the ground when a female was in the store earlier, and the employee wanted to know what it was, and what had taken place. The office manager reviewed the cameras and observed that Guy entered the store and removed several items from the shelves, placed them into a bag and exited the store without paying for them.

The office manager reviewed the cameras and observed Guy stealing similar items from the store on later dates. The matter was reported to the police and Guy was arrested for theft. After the facts were read, Guy told the Senior Magistrate that she left secondary school at form four because she got pregnant.

She said her son is four years old and his father does not take care of him. Guy also said that it “make no sense” to take the father to Family court as he still would not take care of his son. She said that she has no one to take care of her son and she is not prepared to go to prison. The Senior Magistrate sentenced her to three months imprisonment. However, the Magistrate suspended the sentence for three months. Guy also was ordered to pay compensation in one month. Failure to do so will result in three months imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently.