| Convicted Burglar Slapped with Second Sentence |
| By Teshell Samuel |
| |
|
|
|
Clive Grant |
|
|
|
|
| |
The jail time of a man already serving eight years was extended on Thursday (Feb 2) after he was found guilty of another criminal offence. Twenty-eight year old Clive Grant, currently serving an eight-year jail term for burglary, was ordered to serve three years and four months by High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas after he pled guilty to possessing house breaking implements.
Grant was arrested on the charge on January 22, 2011 following a foot chase by officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
According to the prosecution, on the night in question two uniformed officer were patrolling the McKnight area just after 1:00am and came across Grant walking in the vicinity of Greenlands. The officers called out to Grant, but he took off running, jumping over the wall fencing of the Sugar City Rock Radio Station. The officers gave chase and found the man an hour later, two yards spaces away from the radio station, hiding under sheets of galvanize.
Grant was asked to vacate his hiding place and in so doing officers noticed a black bag pack left under the galvanize. Officers confiscated and searched the bag and found a screw driver, crow bar and a multi-functional tool. When asked if the bag was his Grant explained that it was but did not give the officers a reason for possessing the tools. He was then arrested and charged for possession of house breaking implements.
Before being sentenced, Grant pleaded with the Court for leniency stating that he had only pled guilty to the offence because he was found with the tools.
“I was found with the tools yes, but they were not to break into any house. I use them at work; I am a construction worker,” he said.
A social inquiry report deemed Grant was “no stranger” to the court or the prison system, having been convicted several times in his life and most recently in October of 2011.
Justice Thomas, in handing down his sentence, explained to Grant that his story was not the first of its kind to be heard by the Court.
“Your story is a familiar one; it is crime after crime. I agree with the social inquiry report that you have set a path of crime but it is still up to you to make a change,” His Lordship said.
Grant’s eight-year sentence spawned from a 10-2 guilty verdict on October 31, 2011 for the crime of burglary. He was said to have broken in to the New Pond Site home of Trevor Woodley where he stole a cell phone valued at EC$700 and attempted to make off with a purse belonging to the victim’s wife.
This additional time brings Grant’s total prison term to 11 years and four months. |
