BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A man on Thursday (Nov. 1) was given the maximum sentence for building breaking and larceny; offences he committed in 2011.
Rondel Hanley was convicted by a 12-member jury on October 8, 2012 for breaking into the Island Food Grocery Supermarket warehouse sometime after four in the morning of February 15, 2011 and stealing a number of grocery items.
Hanley was accused of stealing 12 cases of Nestle Cornflakes, 30 cases of Kraft macaroni and cheese, 15 cases of Carnation milk, 12 cases of Starkist tuna, 20 cases of Brunswick Sardine, 20 cases of Fruita can drinks, 11 cases of Helmans mayonnaise, six cases of Stone Ginger Wine, three cases of Beehive Brandy, four cases of Nido Milk Powder, three cases each of large and small Sunquicks, 18 cases of Libby's spaghetti and meatballs, two cases of Delmont sliced pineapples, 35 cases of Libby's vienna sausage, four cases of Hunts tomato paste, 12 cases of a certain juice, seven cases of trash bags, two cases of Redbull, 11 cases of Teddy's pampers, three cases of Milo, three cases of Napoleon Brandy, two cases of Complete Seasoning, two cases of Festival cookies, two cases of Quix dishwashing liquid, 20 bottles of Listerine mouthwash, 25 cases of Pringles, four cases of Bounty paper towel, two cases of Magnum, two cases of Sunmix, and four cases of Heineken Beer, all to the value of EC$33,031.56.
Given an opportunity to say something before being sentenced, Hanley simply said that he would like the Court to have mercy on him.
Justice Thomas then asked him why he wanted leniency, to which Hanley replied, "Because I am serving a seven year sentence."
The judge told him that if he had committed a misdemeanour and asked for mercy that would have been fine, but he could not be a frequent offender and ask for mercy.
"If you keep on committing crimes, you don't care," the judge said.
Hanley's Social Inquiry Report described him as being no stranger to the justice system, even when he was a juvenile.
"On many occasions he has been placed on probation and would violate his condition on many occasions," the report stated.
Justice Thomas made mention of Hanley's seven previous convictions, stating that his crimes are escalating.
He said the fact that Hanley's convictions were all in the last three years show that he has no intention of slowing down his criminal activities.
"What the prisoner stole was enough to open a small supermarket, you are on a crime spree," the judge said.
Hanley was sentenced to 10 years, which would run consecutive to the seven-year term he is already serving.
