Teenager sent on ‘holiday’ to Her Majesty’s Prison

When 16-year-old Largo Heights resident JB Patterson returns to court next Friday for sentencing, he would have already had a two-week taste of what life at Her Majesty’s Prison is like.{{more}}

After Patterson pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and theft at a sitting of the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, magistrate Carla James requested a social inquiry report and remanded him until August 14, at which time he will be sentenced.

The youngster pleaded guilty to entering the dwelling home of Largo Heights resident Joseph Browne and stealing items, including a gold ring, shoes and $245.

The court heard that on July 4, 2015, Browne secured his home at about 5:30 a.m. and on his return around 1:30 p.m. later that day, he noticed that one of the windows of the house was open. When he entered the house, Browne found the place ransacked and items missing.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to Patterson’s arrest. During that investigation, the ring and a pair of shoes were recovered. However, $145 of money is still not accounted for.

Patterson also confessed that on July 8, he broke and entered a motor vehicle and stole a purse containing over $600.

The facts in that matter are that Philon Hackshaw parked her vehicle in the vicinity of the Glad Tidings Tabernacle camp site at Queen’s Drive and on her return, discovered that her purse was missing.

In a written statement, Patterson told police that he used the money to purchase clothing. The boy told the court that he was living with his stepmother and that he was expelled from secondary school in the first form.

“Last year September you were in court for a similar offense,” Magistrate Carla James remarked.

As a result of his 2014 offences, Patterson was ordered to have counseling sessions that finished two weeks before the July 4 burglary and also to receive a tour of the prisons, which did not happen.

“Since you missed the tour last year, you will have a little holiday until the August 14,” the magistrate said. (AS)