Reynold Ledger is one of those persons who are bent on reaping what they did not sow.
But Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne told the 43-year-old agricultural produce thief on Wednesday that, “If you want to have these things, plant them.”
The Magistrate added, “People can’t afford to plant and you coming and reaping what you ain’t sow.”
Browne noted that Ledger had been before the Court several times before on charges of a similar nature.
Her comments came just after ordering Ledger to pay compensation in the sum of $40 forthwith to Anetta Hull of Cane End, Mesopotamia, for stealing 16 holes of dasheen and one bunch of banana from Hull’s land at Glenside, Mesopotamia. In default, he would go to prison for one month.
The Glenside man was also bonded for six months. If he breaches the bond, he would have to pay the Court $900 forthwith or go to prison for six months.
The Serious Offences Court had heard earlier that on the morning of February 12, Hull went to her land to do some work. She left around 11:45 a.m. leaving everything intact.
When she returned on February 16 around 4 p.m., she noticed that 16 holes of dasheen were uprooted, and the bunch of banana missing.
She reported the matter to the police, and Ledger was handed over to the police by someone.
He was cautioned, but gave no statement.
Farmers here have been suffering at the hands of thieves for several years.
Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche has been very consistent in his call for the police to charge persons under the Praedial Larceny Act, which was passed specifically to deal with praedial larceny, and which carries heavier penalties and gives the police more powers of arrest.
However, the police continues to charge offenders under the Criminal Code, in relation to the theft of agriculture produce and livestock.