St Elias Charles got that one opportunity he claimed he never got – a chance at drug rehabilitation.
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“We’re taking a chance on him because we don’t ever give up on people,” said Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Charles, 55, a cleaner, of King William Street, The City, had pleaded guilty, on a previous appearance in court, to stealing a bottle of perfume, belonging to Duty Free Caribbean, on May 2 this year; stealing a ham, belonging to BJ’s Value Mart, on May 21, and stealing a speaker, belonging to Unicomer, on May 30.
He had been remanded to the Psychiatric Hospital for an evaluation after he expressed an interest in undergoing drug rehabilitation.
A representative from Verdun House was present when Charles reappeared yesterday.
Chief Magistrate Frederick noted Charles was well known to the courts – he has over 100 convictions – and that “it would have been easy to just incarcerate him”.
“What he has said is that he has never had the opportunity to have drug rehabilitation and the Psychiatric Hospital had recommended him for the residential programme,” the Chief Magistrate noted.
The representative from Verdun House said the facilitators of the programme were willing to accept Charles.
“We’re taking a chance on you because we don’t ever give up on people,” the Chief Magistrate told Charles.
“People may say he is trying to trick the system and we may never know, but this is the carrot and stick approach.”
Charles then told the court: “I study what you said in that cell in that mad place and what you said makes sense. The opportunity you gave me, I will put it to good use.”
Chief Magistrate Frederick then ordered Charles to enrol in and complete the programme at Verdun House. If he breaches the order, he will spend a year in prison.
He returns to court on November 2 for a progress report. (HLE)