MONTEGO BAY, St James — A St James man who pleaded guilty to shop breaking and larceny last year escaped with a suspended sentence after probation authorities failed to deliver a social enquiry report requested by the Court.

Senior Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris did not mince words on Monday as she expressed her disappointment that the social enquiry report had not been done.

"Some of us need to spend some time at the Freeport lock-up then they will understand the conditions there," the RM told the court when she was informed that the report that was ordered on December 14 had not been done.

The accused man, Oshane Findley of a Rosemount, St James address, told the RM that no staff member of the Probations Office had visited him while he was in lock up which prompted the RM to remark: "I would not like it for myself and don't see why I should inflict it on the citizens of Jamaica."

RM Harris appeared upset that her orders had not been carried out, commenting that it was unfair to deny persons their liberty. She said sufficient time had been given for the report to be completed.

"We are not at large to sentence people without the reports", she said. Since it would take another six weeks to get a new report, she sentenced the 20-year-old to nine months suspended for 12 months.

"You pleaded guilty at the first time, you are still young and I will take a chance," she told him as she explained that any other transgressions in the next 12 months would see him being sent to jail for this crime first.

Findley, a 2008 graduate of a Kingston-based high school who was represented by attorney-at-law Martyn Thomas, admitted to breaking into a shop last year and stealing $500,000.

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