The thought of spending eight months in prison reduced many-time convicted thief Deana Rosemary Clarke to tears.
But an additional month in prison dried them instantly when she was in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
Clarke, 41, of Scarborough, Christ Church, admitted robbing pensioner Wendell James of $270 on Friday, but said a man actually took the money.
But prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Waithe said the orange-wigged thief had a history of stalking pensioners and then ripping their wallets from their pockets.
“That is the modus of [Clarke],” he said.
“They [Clarke and the man] followed the complainant from Fairchild Street, down to Princess Alice Highway and then to Lakes Folly. They were seen on [closed circuit television] footage. It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon,” the prosecutor added.
“In broad daylight? How brazen,” Magistrate Graveney Bannister said.
The thief, who has convictions dating back to 1998 and who is on bail from Court No. 1 of District “A” Magistrates’ Court for a similar offence, said she had already given up the man’s name.
“I is sell little snacks and drinks,” she said when asked if she was able to work.
“You can’t go around robbing old people. Old people built this country,” the magistrate declared.
He noted that Clarke had received six-month prison terms for her last two offences and he, initially, sentenced her to eight months in jail. This caused her to burst into tears.
But moments later, Magistrate Bannister recalled the still-crying woman to the dock and changed her sentence to nine months in jail. A now dry-eyed Clarke did not respond.
Prosecutor Waithe had earlier told the court that the retiree, who rented a room in Lakes Folly, The City, went to Jordan’s Supermarket. He collected his groceries and walked back to where he lived. There, he placed them on the ground while he was trying to open the door.
A man ran into him from behind and initiated a struggle, while Clarke ran up and ripped the pensioner’s wallet from his pocket, tearing the pocket.
When she got the wallet, Clarke and the man ran off along Cheapside. (HLE)
