Leroy Thomas claimed he snatched a woman's handbag because he was frustrated that he was unable to feed his children. This explanation, however, did not help the 25-year-old man when he appeared before San Fernando Fourth Court magistrate Alicia Chankar and he was jailed for 30 days. Thomas told the court: "I felt sorry and went back and get the thing for the lady." The resident of Old Trainline, St Margaret's, apologised for his actions and said: "At the point in time, I had nothing to give them (his children.) They were hungry and crying. I get frustrated."
Chankar told him: "The mere fact that you could do that is desperate measures, but it's the wrong thing."
Thomas was arrested by PC Davis Lewis and charged with stealing the woman's purse on January 18 at Southern Main Road, St Margaret's. Police prosecutor Sgt Russell Ramoutar told the court the woman was standing along the Southern Main Road at around 9.30 am, when Thomas and another man approached her. Thomas grabbed her brown and gold purse and ran away. The purse, worth $100, contained the woman's identification card and her RBTT bank card, as well as $306.
The victim made a report at the St Margaret's Police Station and after inquiries, Lewis met Thomas at the station on January 19. He told him of the report. After he was cautioned, Thomas told the police officer: "Let me not play no games. Is me and a tall youth man, a fellow name Sammy, who does lime on the line who take de woman thing." Lewis took Thomas to Old Trainline, St Margaret's, where he retrieved the purse containing the cards. Thomas was arrested and taken to the police station where he was formally charged.