Teen awaits sentencing for robberies, theft

An 18-year-old Wildey man was remanded to Dodds Prison overnight pending sentencing after acting Magistrate Shakieda Sealy raised serious concerns about the pattern of thefts, which were linked to Facebook Marketplace transactions. “You have started off your adult life in the wrong way,” she told Robereico Ricardo Brathwaite of Block 4B, Rock Avenue, Wildey, as he stood in the dock of the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. He pleaded guilty to robbing Jaheim Harewood of a chain, cash, a wallet and its contents, with a total value of $1 532, on August 17, and robbing Dujuan Clarke of a wallet, cash, five rings, a bangle, chain and pendant, all totalling $5 550, on September 11. Brathwaite also admitted to stealing $1 200 from Ramon Wood on September 5. In all three cases, the complainants saw jewellery advertised on Bajan Marketplace on Facebook, contacted the seller, and made arrangements to buy the items, prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Leacock told the court. Harewood went to an area in Regent Hill, Pinelands on August 17, where he met Brathwaite and another man. He bought a chain for $900 and left the area. But when he realised it was not real, he returned and confronted Brathwaite and the other man. Brathwaite, armed with a knife, and the other man, brandishing a firearm, took the chain and other belongings. You Might Be Interested In In Clarke’s case, they arranged to meet on the grounds of St Barnabas Church, and the complainant arrived with $2 000 — the agreed price for the jewellery he wanted to buy. He was wearing several rings, a bangle, and a chain and pendant. Brathwaite and another man arrived, but when Clarke asked about the authenticity of the item, the accused and the other man became angry. They held Clarke and forcibly removed his jewellery and wallet. After police arrested Brathwaite, they recovered two rings. On September 5, Wood went to a meeting point near the public secondary school, where Brathwaite and another man approached him and began discussing the sale of the chain. When Wood asked to see the chain, Brathwaite asked to see the money. When Wood showed him the cash, Brathwaite snatched it and ran off. However, Wood managed to hold on to the other man and demanded that he return the money. It was then that Brathwaite ran back and threw a chain onto Wood’s car, causing him to release the other man. Brathwaite and the other man ran off and, when Wood checked, he realised that the chain was fake. He reported the matter. None of the property in this case was recovered. Brathwaite’s lawyer urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, pointing out that he was a first-time offender, was remorseful, had co-operated with the police and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Brathwaite told Magistrate Sealy: “I was led astray. I learn my lesson. I went following the multitude, and I am sorry, Ma’am.” “These are very serious matters. If it was just a one-off, maybe I could understand but this is definitely a pattern,” the acting magistrate said. “I will take time to think on this, so you will be kept tonight.” (JB)