“I was drunk, wrong and strong,” was the explanation given by a 25-year-old sales clerk for stealing from a Christ Church supermarket.
Romario Akiba Forde of Amity Lodge, Rendezvous, Christ Church, pleaded guilty to stealing a $10 container of pineapple chunks from Massy Worthing on August 21.
Prosecutor Sergeant Reginald Blackman told the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that the manager saw the accused enter the store, take up a container of pineapple, sit down in the aisle and begin to eat the fruit. A security guard approached and repeatedly informed Forde of the store’s policy that customers must pay for any items before consuming them, but this was ignored, and the accused continued eating while also arguing. He then walked out of the store without paying and was arrested and charged.
The first-time offender told the court, “I actually did not leave the store with the pineapples in my hand.”
“But you left with them in your belly. That is the point,” Magistrate Renee countered.
“I told the officers I was going to pay, and I want to pay for them, but they grabbed me and took me upstairs. I even blacked out and don’t remember what happened after that, legit. The next thing I remember is waking up in the cell….
The only thing I was upset about was I told them I was going to pay for them; just leave me alone,” he replied.
After the magistrate said that his story sounded “a little crazy”, the prosecutor told the court that at the time of the offence, Forde appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
When questioned about his reaction to the security guard’s insistence that he pay first, Forde admitted that he had been drinking.
“It was like he was trying to control me, and I was genuinely saying ‘I have the money to pay,’ but they were acting like they didn’t believe me,” he said.
“But you cannot go into the people’s store and just pick up things and eat them!” the magistrate stressed.
The accused then apologised for his actions.
Admitting she was concerned about his behaviour, Magistrate Renee placed Forde on a three-month bond to keep the peace. If breached, he will have to pay a $750 fine immediately or spend a week behind bars.
“Your record is still clean, but if you come back here again, there will be a difference,” she warned. “If you cannot hold your alcohol, stay away from it or use it when you are in your house, where you can go and lie down in your bedroom rather than terrorising people’s businesses.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Forde responded.
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