Sent to prison for stealing 2 slices of cheese
54-y-o had 7 previous convictions
Maurice Mills
The 54-year-old man charged for stealing two slices of cheese was fined and sent to prison when he appeared in the St Ann’s Bay RM Court Friday.
Michael Sterling, had at an earlier court hearing pleaded guilty to a charge of simple larceny, for stealing two slices of cheese from a supermarket in St Ann’s Bay.
Resident Magistrate Andrea Thomas ordered Sterling to pay $850 for the slices of cheese then sentenced him to ten days in custody.
In handing down the sentence, in the St Ann’s Bay RM court on Friday, August 8, RM Thomas reiterated her firm stance on stealing, telling Sterling that he could have asked for the cheese instead of stealing it.
In court, it was revealed that Sterling had been before the court on seven occasions for charges ranging from simple larceny to attempted break-in and receiving stolen property. He had been convicted and given custodial sentences.
Concerning these, RM Thomas asked: “Based on the records, do you agree that you have seven convictions?”
“Yes Miss,” Sterling replied.
“When you came to court, how many convictions did you say you have?” she continued.
“Two or three,” replied a stuttering Sterling.
“You said you had one,” corrected RM Thomas.
She told the accused that he had been to prison several times for the same offence and it appeared he had no intention to change.
“Why should I not send you back to prison?” She asked
“It is years I did not get involved and I was drinking on that day, Miss,” Sterling said.
MEDIA INFORMATION
RM Thomas, who was critical of the information that was circulated in the media stated that when Sterling first appeared before the court and pleaded guilty, the human side of her led her to the conclusion that he was hungry. However she said after the owners of the supermarket were called in and checks made, it was revealed that Sterling had been a problem to the owners of the supermarket and that the very owners have given him chances on a number of occasions but now they were “fed up” and decided to press charges against Sterling.
RM Thomas said: “I am not going to compromise dishonesty… the time you take to put your hand up, you could have asked for it.”
Stating that she believes in the Bible, the RM said: “The Bible says ask and it shall be given; not steal and it shall be forgiven.” (blurb)
She also suggested to Sterling that instead of stealing, he could have resorted to farming as the parish had a lot of land.
Sterling, who was quiet unaware of how to answer the question of why he should not be sent to prison, told the RM that he had a hole in his heart and could not do much physical activity, after which he said “ Miss I am sorry.”
WON’T STEAL AGAIN
He was ordered to pay $850 for the cheese, and popped out a thousand dollars to do so. After this, he was sentenced to ten days in jail.
“I am sure you won’t steal again,” RM Thomas said.
It is alleged that Sterling stole two slices of cheese from a supermarket in St Ann’s Bay, after which he was arrested. He was taken into custody on Friday, June 6. When Sterling last appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to stealing the cheese. He told the court that he stole the cheese to eat with stale bread he got because he was hungry.
Sterling was booked for sentencing on an earlier date, but was not sentenced as his finger print and police records were not present. While Sterling was on bail, he had also gotten into more trouble after he approached RM Thomas out of court, begging for mercy. At that time, RM Thomas said: “Public pressure does not affect me, Sir…As far as I am concerned, stealing is stealing, I don’t care if you steal a pin or a million dollars, and the law says stealing is wrong.”
