Delano Romero Linton stole a $10 bottle of gel belonging to Beauty Works on Tuesday.
Had he known that his fine would be 50 times this amount, the Millers Land, Chapman Lane, St Michael man might have bought the gel instead of stealing it.
On November 17, a sales assistant noticed Linton in the store acting suspiciously and notified the supervisor.
When the security camera was checked, he was seen putting the gel under this shirt and leaving the store. There was also a vacant spot among the gels on the shelf.
The matter was reported to police and soon after, the thief was seen in James Street, The City. He was arrested and the gel recovered but it was partially used by then.
Linton asked the court to give him “a chance” today, saying that he was wrong to take the item without paying.
Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant gave him two weeks in which to pay a $500 fine. Failing that, he will have to spend four months in prison.
Linton must show his receipt for payment to the court when he returns on December 2.