Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Thief caught hiding in house jailed for 12 months
News
November 26, 2018

Thief caught hiding in house jailed for 12 months

A young man who was caught hiding in a house that he broke into, after his accomplice ran off with half a million dollars worth of goods and left him behind, was slapped with a one-year prison sentence.

Twenty-one-year-old Dorcel Sewell, who had been trapped inside the house for seven hours after the police arrived, was found hiding in the storage room under a table.

The court previously heard that on July 7, the complainant locked up his house and went to rural Jamaica with his family, but while there he received a call that the police and fire personnel were at his house.

When he got home, the complainant found that his house had been broken into and that about $500,000 worth of items, including an assortment of colognes, gold chains, and pendants, were missing.

The court heard that when Sewell was cautioned, he told the police: “A mi and a brother do it from Cassava Piece and him gone wid the things dem.”

The complainant, during his court appearance in May, had reported that the thieves also damaged a television which they were in the process of removing from a wall when the police arrived.

According to the complainant, the police arrived at his home about 1:00 pm and Sewell remained inside until about 8:00 pm.

Sewell, who had appeared embarrassed and upset, then pleaded guilty to housebreaking and larceny and was remanded for sentencing.

Last Monday when he returned to court his lawyer, Gail Ann Galloway, during her plea in mitigation, told Parish Judge Vaughn Smith that her client had expressed remorse for his actions and had used the time while he was locked up to reflect on what he did.

“If given a chance he will be able to make a positive change in society,” she told the judge.

Galloway also told the judge that her client had no previous conviction and that he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and did not waste the court’s time.

The attorney, before asking the judge not to impose a custodial sentence, asked him to also take into account the time that Sewell had spent in custody.

Judge Smith, in reply, said while he took note of the fact that this was Sewell’s first offence and that he had not wasted the court’s time, he had to balance that against the impact of his actions on the complainant.

The judge indicated that Sewell’s act has left the complainant and his family in fear and has caused them to incur expenses for security.

Consequently, the judge told Sewell that along with all that had been said, and given the fact that he is not in a position to compensate the complainant, he is of the view that a prison term is warranted, and sentenced him to 12 months.

“Use the time wisely to reflect on what you have done, so that when you return you can make a positive impact on society,” Smith told Sewell.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

UWI management meets with employees over salary issues
Latest News, News
UWI management meets with employees over salary issues
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — After demonstrations at the campus gates on Monday and again on Wednesday, the management of the University of the West Indies (UW...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Guyana calls for immediate end to Gaza blockade, renews call for justice for Palestinians
Latest News, Regional
Guyana calls for immediate end to Gaza blockade, renews call for justice for Palestinians
April 16, 2026
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Government of Guyana has renewed its call for an immediate increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the lifting of Isra...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Consumers urged to brace for increase in cost for construction materials
Latest News, News
Consumers urged to brace for increase in cost for construction materials
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Mining and Quarrying Association of Jamaica (MQAJ) is urging construction companies, developers and property owners to brace f...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cop whose gun ‘went off’ and killed girlfriend slapped with manslaughter charge
Latest News, News
Cop whose gun ‘went off’ and killed girlfriend slapped with manslaughter charge
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A police constable implicated in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Jimoy Suckoo, at a hotel in May Pen, Clarendon ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PSOJ urges Jamaica to take immediate action to protect consumers amid emerging energy crisis
Latest News, News
PSOJ urges Jamaica to take immediate action to protect consumers amid emerging energy crisis
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — With global oil prices rising amid renewed geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaic...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire
International News, Latest News
Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire
April 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NWA begins paving of temporary bypass after breakaway in Belmont, Westmoreland
Latest News, News
NWA begins paving of temporary bypass after breakaway in Belmont, Westmoreland
April 16, 2026
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) has commenced the paving of a temporary route for a section of the Belmont main road in Westmo...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Usain Bolt  and Hublot to release new limited-edition watch
Latest News, Sports
Usain Bolt and Hublot to release new limited-edition watch
April 16, 2026
Usain Bolt and Hublot have partnered to release a limited-edition timepiece bearing tributes to the legendary sprinter. Only 200 versions of the Hublo...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct