The father of a teenager who stole from a supermarket did not intend leaving the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday unless his son had apologised for finding himself before the courts.
The 16-year-old had earlier admitted to stealing a $6.99 anti-perspirant deodorant from Popular Discounts at Spooners Hill, St Michael on Monday.
The facts of the case were that a security guard noticed that while the teen was paying for three items at the cashier, something else was jutting out of his right rear pocket. When he requested a search, the item was found.
The court referred the boy to a probation officer who recommended that he was a fit candidate for community service and should perform 80 hours.
Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant spoke to the first-time offender and when she concluded, his father, who patiently stood beside him in the courtroom, mentioned that his son had something to say.
The boy looked blankly at his parent who responded: “You don’t have anything to say to her?” When understanding dawned on him, the boy thanked the magistrate and promised that “it will not happen again”.
The father also thanked the magistrate before exiting the courtroom.