Man steals bulbs to pay for child’s surgery

A father who stole an undisclosed quantity of LED bulbs from his workplace, with the intent of reselling the items to assist with his daughter's surgery, was given a suspended sentence in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

The man, 32, pleaded guilty to larceny as a servant, following an incident on March 11. He is represented by Sasha Gay Shaw, who submitted to the court that the man stole the items to purchase materials costing $60,000 for his daughter's surgery, but had returned the items the same day.

His 15-year-old daughter is said to be suffering from a kidney-related illness. She, however, was unable to do the surgery as her father was taken into custody and the money was not paid for the procedure.

"I think at the time the intention was to engage in that particular activity to sell them and get some extra cash to buy the equipment so that she could do the surgery, Your Honour. I must say that his conscience led him to think about his actions," Shaw told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague.

The lawyer said that the man has lost his job, and his daughter's surgery has not been done. She asked that the man be given a non-custodial sentence, noting that he was not only remorseful but that it was the first time he was charged for an offence.

"This is not someone who was trying to commit an offence for pure greed, but in a moment of stress. He thought that earning some extra cash for the surgery could assist," the lawyer said.

The senior judge, having heard the submissions of Shaw, sentenced the man to four months' imprisonment at hard labour, suspended for a year.

"Who I have before me is a frustrated father, a father who was at his wits' end having a sick child to do surgery and who feels there is no way to provide. There is something that happens to a parent when a child is not well. So it's commendable that you are in your child's life and I do believe that the submission of your attorney, the plea that you receive a non-custodial sentence is an appropriate one," the judge said.

She hastened to say that the court was not excusing or condoning his, but stated that, "I am of the view that your sentence started long before you came before me".