Christopher Thomas, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A man who stole eight bottles of bath and body wash last November, was again remanded on Friday due to the absence of his social enquiry report.

Donovan Rashford, 48, of John's Hall in St James, had previously pleaded guilty with explanation to simple larceny in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on November 17, 2012.

Allegations are that on November 10, Rashford tried to steal eight 250-millilitre bottles of bath and body wash from the Hi-Lo supermarket at Fairview in Montego Bay, but was quickly apprehended and subsequently charged. He admitted to being on cocaine at the time.

On Friday, the probation officer told the court that Rashford's social enquiry report was not done despite a visit to his community, as his relatives are not minded to attend the probation office to complete the report.

The court was further told that relatives said Rashford stole to maintain his drug habit.

"Is this how you plan to proceed?" Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small asked Rashford.

"No, your honour; I used to work at River Bay Road. They know me as a good person on the road," answered Rashford.

"Yes, but the people who you stole their things, they don't know you as a good person. The problem you have is that you need a residential facility and it would appear that based on your behaviour, nobody wants to assist," remarked Wong-Small.

Rashford was subsequently remanded until January 11, at which time the social enquiry report is to be prepared to help determine his sentence.