Self-confessed cocaine addict Kendell Joseph who stole a bottle of vodka to “feed his addiction,” was on Friday sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Joseph, 35, of Ste Madeleine, who had a long list of previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three charges, including possession of a weapon, being found in enclosed premises and larceny of the $264 bottle of vodka.
San Fernando First Court Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said on Thursday around 8.30 am Shazard Mohammed was visiting a friend at Henry Street, San Fernando. He was in the porch when he saw Joseph jump the wall and enter his vehicle which was parked in the yard. Mohammed ran to his car, opened the door and saw Joseph in the vehicle holding a knife and his bottle of vodka.
Mohammed ordered him out of his vehicle. Joseph slipped and fell on the ground, hitting on his head, as he was exiting the car. He was subsequently arrested and charged by PC Groome.
Defence attorney Ainsley Lucky told Senior Magistrate Alicia Chankar that Joseph had a drug problem. He said Joseph, a father of two, was going to sell the vodka to feed his addiction.
Chankar said Joseph had a booklet of convictions, which included 2016 matters for cocaine possession and being found in enclosed premises. He also had convictions from 2009.
“At the end of the day, you go to jail, you come out and you do it again,” she said. Saying that a man’s home is a castle, the magistrate told him there was no justification for his actions.
Lucky said his client had the knife for his own protection because of recent threats. Joseph was sentenced to three months each for possession of the knife and stealing the vodka while he was jailed for 16 months on the other charge. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.