Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who broke into two buildings and stole several computers was given a suspended sentence in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Kino Jackson, 18, from Albion Lane, Montego Bay, and who had previously pleaded guilty to office breaking and larceny, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years.

Allegations are that on January 13, Jackson and other persons broke into the St James Printery and GG Rubber Stamp buildings along North Lane in Montego Bay and stole a flat-screen monitor, a CPU, a computer and a scanner.

The police later went in search of the robbers, and Jackson was pointed out and subsequently arrested and charged, though the stolen items were not recovered.

"Were you going to school (at the time)?" Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes asked Jackson on Wednesday.

"I had signed up for HEART, but I didn't start attending," Jackson admitted.

"So when were you supposed to start?" RM Barnes wanted to know.

"I don't remember the exact date," said Jackson.

"I was told that 'you cannot scam a scammer'. You cannot scam me, you weren't going to go anywhere," RM Barnes said dryly.

"It was my intention to do good for myself," Jackson told the magistrate.

"Intention and action are two different things," RM Barnes answered.

The magistrate eventually gave the suspended sentence to Jackson, while admonishing him to be on his best behaviour.

"You are going to prove me wrong, because I am going to say that you will be back here. Let me see how good you are and how great your intentions are," said RM Barnes, as she handed down her ruling.