Teen jailed for six months for car theft

A sixteen year-old boy of Green Hill who stole a man’s car, was yesterday sentenced to six months in jail.{{more}}

Daniel Porter begged magistrate Carla James for leniency when he appeared before her, charged with theft of a Samsung Galaxy S5 cellular phone, a cellular phone case and with using motor vehicle PT 302 without the consent of the owner, John Noel, also a resident of Green Hill.

Court records indicate that on March 31, 2015, the Serious Offences Court placed Porter on a two-year bond. In default, he would be required to pay $2,000 or go to jail for six months.

The magistrate reactivated the bond and ordered Porter to pay the fine of $2,000. The money was not forthcoming, so she sentenced him to six months in jail.

Following completion of his six-month sentence, Porter will begin serving a further four-month sentence, having been found guilty of theft. For using the vehicle without consent, he was given another three months in jail, but that will run concurrently with his four-month jail term.

According to the facts read out in court, on May 22, at about 7:40 p.m., Noel parked his vehicle alongside his house and secured it. He went into his house and placed his keys and cellular phone on his computer desk.

At about 11:15 p.m. that night, he checked to make sure that his vehicle was in the same position, then went to bed.

At approximately 5:40 a.m., on May 23, Noel checked for his phone and discovered that the phone and his vehicle keys were missing.

He went outside and further discovered that his vehicle was missing.

The matter was reported to the police and following investigations, Porter was arrested.

The vehicle was found at Casson Hill and had to be taken to the police garage after the court heard it had experienced a mechanical problem.

The cellular phone and its case were returned to the owner.

The teenager was cautioned and interviewed by police and admitted to the offences.

In court, Porter said, he was willing to pay a fine for his actions.

“Ah go like to get a chance because ah getting a little work, so I could pay back,” he said.

Asked by the magistrate what field of employment he was going into, Porter replied, “a conductor.”

Prosecutor Shamrack Pierre indicated to the court that the youngster had been ordered to undergo community service at the Old Montrose Police Station, but had not been attending.

A visibly upset magistrate told Porter that he had to pay for his actions, but it would not be in the form of money.

“You are not learning your lesson. You don’t seem to be behaving yourself. I should not be seeing you here again,” James said.(KW)