KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing a cellular phone when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Beresford Hutchinson, who is a repeat offender, pleaded guilty with explanation to a charge of simple larceny brought against him for stealing an iPhone valued at US$1,200 on November 8, 2016.

Hutchinson told the court that he did not know whose phone it was.

Senior Parish Judge Judith Pusey, on recognising the offender, noted that he had been brought before the court for similar offences more than once before.

Hutchinson told the judge, who asked “How many time(s) you charge for phone?”, that he was previously charged “about three times”.

 “He has been convicted by me before. I can’t remember when was the last time,” Pusey told the court. “How many times you come here?” she continued.

“Four times,” Hutchinson replied.

The judge continued her line of question, asking him “When was the last time? How long you spent in jail?”

“About eight months,” he said, apparently responding to the question on his jail time.

“Bwoy mi no know, you start off the year bad. Mi never plan to send nobody to prison today but mi no have no choice. You keep doing it, you have to stop it,” Pusey said prior to sentencing him.

Racquel Porter