Cash-for-gold trader gets five-day prison sentence

A judge yesterday sentenced a cash-for-gold peddler to five days' imprisonment after she considered her option under a 76-year-old law under which he was prosecuted.

George Findly pleaded guilty on Monday to breaching the Metal and Jewellery (Control of Second Hand) Act under which a maximum fine of $200 can be imposed. A person convicted under the act can also be imprisoned for up to a year.

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague said it "makes no sense" to impose the $200 fine on Findly who begged the judge leniency.

"Just beg yuh have likkle leniency, Ma'am, and I'm asking you a favour with getting a job to get me off the streets," cash-for-gold peddler told the judge.

In her response, judge Cole-Montague said she does not take light the offence.

Investigators told the court that Findly forms a group of four men who loiter outside the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre daily, bellowing "gold me a buy" to passers-by. The court was told that cash-for-gold peddlers pose a risk to the public as stolen jewellery such as gold rings and chains are sold to them.

Findly told the judge that he would be making efforts to seek employment, and confessed to a previous conviction for robbery with aggravation.

"I will not impose a $200 sentence, that makes no sense. The very stationery is worth more than that. I have often reminded persons that when matters are before the court for sentencing, there are different goals to be accomplished and the goal to being accomplished in sentencing you is that there must be a deterrent effect, having regard to the landscape now in Half-Way Tree. There is a problem and the police are crying out," Cole-Montague said.

"$200 is nothing, I'm going to give you a little time, Sir," she said before sentencing Findly to five days' imprisonment at hard labour.