Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

"I don't want to go to prison to waste time," said a man who stole several rolls of electrical wires from The Palmyra hotel construction site where he was employed.

Frederick Montaque, 32, a painter and carpenter of Lilliput in St James, pleaded guilty to simple larceny when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

He said he was willing to do community service to "give back to the city."

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25.

The father of one said he did not want to go to prison as he had always tried to be a role model to his child. According to Montaque, he was building a house and just wanted something good for himself.

The records indicate that on March 16, police stopped a bus being driven by the accused in Lilliput. When he was unable to produce documents for the vehicle, the bus was searched and 13 rolls of wires were seen. He told the police that he borrowed the bus from a friend but was unable to account for the wires.

However, it was later discovered that the items were taken from the hotel construction site. When he was arrested and cautioned, Montaque told the police that he took a chance to steal the items, as he wanted them to wire a house he was building.

He was granted bail with surety in the sum of $30,000 and a social enquiry report is to be prepared.