Thief’s family leaves him locked up - Upset relatives refuse to pay his bail

A Corporate Area man has languished in custody for the past three months, as relatives, who are disgusted with his crime, refuse to stand as surety for his bail.

The defendant, Andrew Hayles, was arrested some time in March after stealing two energy drinks and two bottles of vodka, valued at nearly $3,000 from a supermarket. He pleaded guilty to simple larceny on Wednesday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

He was offered station bail of $10,000 with a surety, but was not able to take up his bail offer, as none of his family members wanted to stand as surety. Further, the court heard, he was offered bail on April 7 by Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell in the sum of $70,000 with a surety. But, he remained behind bars as his family members did not want to stand as surety.

"He was offered station bail of $10,000 and his family wouldn't pay it?" Judge Blake-Powell asked.

"Your Honour, no one will be coming forward to bail him. I have spoken to his family members and no one will be coming. Your Honour, they will not be bailing him. Your Honour, could you consider giving Mr Hayles bail in his own surety with strict conditions? Your Honour, I am very open with this court. They [Hayles' family members] are very upset about it, they are really upset about it," said Venese Reeves, Hayles' attorney-at-law.

The defence attorney stated further that she has made contact with Hayles' mother and other relatives, who have expressed their displeasure with the young man's actions.

"I have spoken to him and I think he has learnt his lesson. Everybody is just upset and understandably so," the attorney stressed.

Having heard the submissions of the attorney, Judge Blake-Powell offered Hayles bail in the sum of $70,000 with his own surety, and ordered him to report to the police daily. Hayles was also ordered to stay away from the supermarket. He is to return to court on September 29 for sentencing. A social enquiry report was also requested.