“You grew up with a golden spoon, but let it turn to brass.”
With those words, Magistrate Douglas Frederick sentenced Patrick Bruce DeSilva to 18 months in prison yesterday on a series of theft and burglary charges.
The sentence was handed down after the 54-year-old, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty to five charges when he appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court.
DeSilva, who has 82 convictions, of which 62 are for dishonesty, was only released from HMP Dodds a few months ago after serving an 18-month sentence.
He admitted that sometime between December 23 and 24, he stole two gowns, a bib, a shirt, a tablecloth, a sash, a pair of emblems, a dustpan, one cloth, a searchlight, a pair of slippers and $1.15 belonging to Frederick George. The total value of the items was $102.15.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing one Barbados driver’s licence belonging to Glen King on December 24.
DeSilva also stole five bottles of liquor worth $535.42, one bottle of rum punch valued at $120 and one cordless drill worth $150 belonging to Benjamin Read between December 3 and 4.
On December 17 and 18, he stole three bottles of liquor valued $238.18 and one gallon bottle of rum punch worth $120, belonging to Read, as well as one $200 cooler and one $100 tool set, also belonging to Read on December 20. On those last two occasions, DeSilva entered Read’s catamaran Ocean Daze and stole the mentioned items.
Magistrate Frederick pointed out that none of Read’s property had been recovered and he told the many-time convicted man that prison might be the best place for him.
“You are an intelligent man but you have no confidence in yourself . . . you could have gone further,” the magistrate said after DeSilva pointed out that he had 11 ‘O’ Level certificates and had held several high-profile jobs.
DeSilva had also told the court that during his previous time in prison he had helped to educate the inmates.
“Your purpose may be in prison to tutor there, because you can motivate the inmates, even though it is apparent you cannot motivate yourself. I want to see you change your life around, but, more importantly, try to reform yourself,” the magistrate added.
DeSilva had earlier apologised for his actions, revealing that he had a drug problem.
He said he had started with alcohol before progressing to marijuana and cocaine. He said it had ruined his life and his relationship with his daughter. (RB)
