There was a wave of sympathy, sometimes laughter, in the St Ann’s Bay resident magistrate court on Tuesday, June 17, after a man was brought before the court for allegedly stealing two slices of cheese. Fifty-four-year-old, gardener, Michael Sterling of Jail Lane, St Ann’s Bay appeared before the court on simple larceny. It is alleged that Sterling stole two slices of cheese from a shop in St Ann’s Bay, after which he was arrested. He was taken into custody on Friday, June 6. When Sterling appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to stealing the cheese. He told the court that he stole the cheese to eat with bread he got because he was hungry. Resident Magistrate, Andrea Thomas was presiding over the case. “Ma’am somebody give me a bread but it was stale so that’s why mi tek the cheese,” Sterling told the court. Some persons chuckled while some were surprised that Sterling was remanded for stealing cheese. RM Thomas asked Sterling if he was ever arrested for a crime. Sterling replied that he was arrested in 1991 for allegedly stealing mangoes. “Yes ma’am in 1991 mi did get arrested because dem say mi tief mango but your honour I didn’t steal it. I picked the mangoes off a tree and people say is steal mi steal it.”Mr Sterling was then granted bail at $19,000 with one or two sureties. Mr Sterling however asked the court if he could stand bail for himself because he had no one to bail him. “Ma’am I don’t have any family to bail me so I’m asking you please to let me do it. I am not going anywhere, please ma’am,” Sterling begged. RM Thomas told Sterling he could not stand bail for himself. He was then taken back into custody. Checks by the North Coast Times revealed that Sterling was released on bail the following day after a family member turned up to stand bail. He is to return to court on Friday, July 4 for sentencing.
