‘Tipsy’ chef steals woman’s phone

A man who claimed to have stolen a woman's phone because he was under the influence of alcohol was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine when he appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Keniel Coke, a 37-year-old chef, was fined by presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Ashley after being brought to court to answer to the charge of larceny from the person. The court was told that on December 25, 2023, the female complainant was using her cellular phone while waiting for a taxi at the roundabout near the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Coke reportedly approached her from behind and grabbed the phone before fleeing into nearby bushes.

The complainant quickly hailed an approaching police team and informed them of what happened, following which the officers searched the bushes and found Coke hiding. The complainant's phone was recovered, and Coke was taken into custody and subsequently charged.

"Why did you do it?" Judge Ashly asked Coke after the circumstances of the case were outlined by the prosecution.

"I was tipsy," Coke explained briefly.

That answer did not impress the judge, who subsequently ordered Coke to pay the fine or spend 30 days in jail on the larceny charge.