Man steals iPhone after weeks on the job

A 23-year-old man who stole his co-worker's iPhone said that he committed the crime because he needed money.

The youngster, Tarik Fenton, was employed at a call centre for three weeks at the time of the incident. He was seen on closed circuit television stealing the cell phone. The police were called and he reportedly pulled a knife at one of them.

"I did steal the phone but I never have the money at the time. I know I'm wrong, and I did apologise," the defendant said, adding that he has never been before the courts before.

When he appeared before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque on Thursday, Fenton pleaded guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon, assault at common law, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and simple larceny.

The phone, which is in the custody of the police, was ordered returned to owner.

Meanwhile, Cole-Montaque appeared taken aback when she heard that Fenton pulled a knife at the policeman.

"Hold on let me ask you something, when you hold the knife at the officer, you did know he was a police?" she asked him.

Fenton said that he had in his earphones and never realised that the man on whom he pulled the knife was a constable.

"I was kind of frightened, and I never mean it. I did apologise to him and told him that I never mean anything by it," Fenton said.

He was sentenced to 80 hours community service for assault at common law and was made the subject of a probation order for the next 18 months for the offence of simple larceny.

For being in possession of an offensive weapon, Fenton was fined $3,000 or serve 10 days' imprisonment, and for disorderly conduct, he was fined $2,000 or 10 days' imprisonment.

For resisting arrest, Fenton was fined $10,000 or 30 days' imprisonment.

He was also made the subject of a fingerprint order.

- T.T.