Santa Cruz

A 36-year-old woman caught stealing grocery items at a supermarket in St Elizabeth cried and begged not to be sent to prison, but, despite her relentless plea, she was sentenced to three months' hard labour.

Ann-Marie Whitely, a vendor from Austin district, Myersville, St Elizabeth, who was charged with simply larceny, was sentenced by Resident Magistrate Dionne Meyler-Reid in the Santa Cruz RM Court last week.

It is alleged that on November 28, Whitely, who has a previous conviction, went to the Shoppers Fair supermarket at Junction in the parish, where she stole grocery items valued at $752.38.

She was allegedly seen and caught with the items in her bag. The store management contacted the police and Whitely was subsequently arrested and charged by Constable Patrice Cole from the Junction Police Station.