A former security guard who blamed his dire economic situation for having turned him into a thief, was sentenced to six months in prison last Friday.
Appearing at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last Friday, Martin Nelson, 50, of Redemption Sharpes, pleaded guilty to entering a business place around 7:25am October 5, and stealing a handbag containing $400 in cash and a quantity of items, belonging to an employee there.
Nelson seized the opportunity to steal the woman’s belongings which she had left in a front room, while she went to another room to speak to her employer. She made a report to the police and investigations led to Nelson’s arrest.
Nelson told the Court he used to be a security guard and was once attached to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).When Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett asked Nelson why he stole the woman’s belongings, he replied, “No work.”
Burnett then asked the defendant, “Because you have not worked, you thief?”
Martin then told the Court that sometimes he was not paid for months whenever he worked.
“So when your employers don’t pay you, you go and steal from somebody else?” the Magistrate questioned rhetorically.
“Were you not taught to be honest in your training? Was that not part of your training as a security guard?” Burnett asked Nelson who replied in the affirmative.
Burnett said that based on his assessment, Nelson seemed to show little or no remorse. He was given credit for his guilty plea, and that he had no previous convictions at the time this offence was committed.