An 18-year-old man who was charged after he allegedly attempted to steal a cellphone, is accusing a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) of harassing and trying to “sink di thief dem.”

The man, Kevon Russell, made the remarks on Tuesday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, when he was hauled before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montaque.

The court was told that he attempted “to swipe” the woman’s cellphone in downtown, Kingston, on Monday.

Immediately after he was brought into the dock to answer to the charge of simple larceny, Russell said, “Mi cya believe a wah gwaan, you know a hungry mi hungry… mi very guilty mi modda.”

He added that when he was arrested police officers ‘beat mi up.”

Russell, who revealed that he is an orphan and he used to live at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in St Andrew, said he now lives in the Coronation Market and “push cart.”

He noted that the woman he took the phone from was not interested in taking him to court, but the police sergeant who arrested him insisted that he be charged.

“Him [the police officer] ever wah sink di thief dem,” Russell said, eliciting laughter from the people in the courtroom.

However, the police officer said he heard a woman running and screaming “thief,” which propelled him into action and he gave chase to Russell, who was trying to evade the woman.

Russell was shortly arrested and charged.

He is to return to court on February 27 for sentencing. A fingerprint order was also made for him, and he was remanded.