Senior citizen avoids jail time in conning case
SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine – A 64-year-old senior citizen, accused of defrauding a woman of $200,000, had his six-month sentence suspended for two years after a judge took pity on him
Dorrett Davis of Willodene in Spanish Town was originally sentenced to six months, but senior St Catherine resident magistrate Lorna Errar-Gayle yielded to a passionate submission from defence attorney Hugh Thompson not to impose a custodial sentence, after Davis made full restitution in court.
Court records showed that in January last year, Davis convinced a woman that she could secure a US visa for her costing $260,000. The victim paid the money in three instalments over a three-month period.
When the visa was not forthcoming and the victim couldn’t get a refund, a report was made to the Spanish Town police who charged Davis with obtaining money by false pretences.
Davis’ daughter, who was in court, refunded the $200,000 in cash to the complainant.
Errar-Gayle ruled that the sentence be suspended for two years of probation officer’s supervision. The senior citizen had already spent two weeks on remand in jail.
