MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man who expressed remorse after admitting to stealing a co-worker’s mobile phone from his call centre locker has been placed on two years’ probation.

Shawn-Dee Walker of Rosemount, St James, was sentenced in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to a charge of simple larceny. The sentence was handed down by Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton.

Before handing down the sentence the court considered a social enquiry report which revealed that members of Walker’s community were surprised by his actions. When Judge Fairclough-Hylton asked Walker if there was anything he wished to say before sentence was imposed, he told the court that he deeply regretted his actions. The judge then sentenced him to two years’ probation.

The court heard that on May 9 the complainant, an employee at a place of business in Montego Bay, placed his iPhone inside his locker before beginning his work day. However, during a break about 5:00 pm he checked the locker and discovered the phone was missing. A review of surveillance footage later showed Walker taking the device.

The matter was reported to the police and Walker was subsequently arrested and charged.