The court will determine Richard Orlando Greaves’ sentence after a pre-sentencing report is done on him.
Greaves, of 1st Avenue Welchman Hall, St Thomas, admitted to Magistrate Douglas Frederick on Thursday that he entered a friend’s house and stole $850 on Wednesday.
Sergeant Martin Rock outlined to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court how Greaves used to frequent Anthony Hazell’s home because the two were friends for over 15 years. That being the case, Greaves knew where Hazell would leave a key so that relatives could gain entry to the house.
On August 19, the complainant left home and when he returned, he realised the money was missing. Hazell also noticed that there were no signs of forced entry. He therefore called the police and both he and Greaves went to the police station.
While there, Greaves was searched by police and several Barbados currency notes fell from his boxers. Greaves then confessed that the money belonged to Hazell. Greaves further told police he moved the key, unlocked the door, searched the complainant’s bedroom and took the cash. He later replaced the key.
Police recovered $713.10 of the money from him.
Greaves told Magistrate Frederick that he was wrong and was sorry.
“But why would you do that to your friend?” the magistrate asked.
“I don’t know, Sir. It offset me and I know it offset he and I really sorry for what I do.”
Greaves went on to say that he worked selling coconuts before but ‘things were slow’ now. ‘Sir that was a foolish thing I did. Somebody that would give me anything,” he added.
When the question of bail arose, a relative who attended court was unemployed and therefore unsuitable to stand as a surety.
When Magistrate Frederick enquired about the mother, the girl said Greaves’ mother “say she ain’t coming.”
“You have a serious mother; I like her,” the magistrate told Greaves.
He then advised the proposed surety to contact Greaves’ mother because failing that, he would have to be remanded. The mother eventually came and stood as surety.
A presentencing report was ordered on Greaves, who returns to court on November 17. He was granted $2, 500 bail.