WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who reported a robbery to the police that he himself had committed, was ironically sentenced to 100 hours of community service with the police on Friday.

Raphael Grayson, 18, of Cambridge, appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of larceny from the dwelling and filing a false report. At that time he pleaded guilty and was remanded until Friday when a sentencing recommendation would be made ready for him.

The allegations are that on August 17, Grayson broke into his stepfather Dean Campbell's house and stole $40,000. He then made a report to the Cambridge Police Station about the break-in, but subsequent investigations revealed that he was the culprit and he was arrested and charged.

false report

"Do you understand the implications of going to the police and filing a false report?" Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris asked Grayson sternly, when the case was called up on Friday.

"Yes, Your Honour," replied Grayson.

"The charge is making a false report, but it should rightfully be obstructing the course of justice," RM Harris continued.

Grayson was then sentenced to spend 100 hours of community service at the Cambridge Police Station on the larceny charge. He was admonished and discharged for the false report charge.