KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two youngsters who confessed to stealing a Samsung Galaxy cell phone to finance the upcoming school term earned two years probation and 100 hours of community service each for their troubles when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

“Why did you steal the phone?” Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly-Williams asked the youngsters.

Eighteen-year-old Nicholas Roach told the court that he wanted to “buy things to go to HEART” while the other accused, Delano Leslie, also18-years-old, responded “same reason.”

Roach’s father, who was present in court, interjected that his son did not have to steal but was “just following bad company”.

“Is that so Mr Roach?” Justice Shelley-Williams questioned the youngster. “Why didn’t you ask your father?”

Roach then told the court that he wanted to handle things by himself now that he had become a man.

But the senior Roach again interrupted, “I don’t know what demons take him over. I send him to church the same night.”

An aunt who appeared for Leslie told the court that she was his caretaker and that although his mother “does not have it she tries her best” adding that there was no need for the youngster’s actions.

“Just the demons,” Roach’s father again interrupted.

Racquel Porter