Chocolate thief gets suspended sentence A middle-aged man with an apparent sweet tooth has been warned to behave himself if he wants to avoid spending time in prison for stealing chocolates. Dennis Alfonzo Beckles, 63, of Paradise Village, Christ Church pleaded guilty in a Bridgetown Magistrates’ Court to stealing six chocolate bars worth $52, property of Massy Stores, on September 6. The court heard that a security officer was patrolling the aisles of the Worthing branch when Beckles was seen picking up a number of chocolates and walking towards the rear of the store. According to Sergeant Verdon Forde the convicted man, who is known to the court with his last conviction in 2016 for stealing chocolates from the same business, approached the cashier without the items. As he passed the cash register he was stopped and a search was requested. The items were found on him and the matter was reported to police. He admitted to committing the offence. In mitigation on Williams’ behalf, attorneyat-law Mohia Ma’at raised concern that a search warrant had been executed at his client’s home and the door to the residence was “dismantled” for a man “with a sweet tooth”. “I found it strange,” the lawyer said. Ma’at suggested that a fine be imposed on Williams as he had not wasted the court’s time. “He knows that he has done wrong and he is willing to pay a fine. He is a general care worker and . . . can come up with the funds. Give him a chance. At least he can go out there and do some work to pay for this fine because he knows what the alternative will be,” the lawyer said. However, Chief Magistrate Weekes sentenced Williams to three months in prison but suspended it for 12 months. “Behave yourself and you will not go to prison,” the judicial officer warned. Source: Barbados Today #thechasefiles #chocolatethief #mohiamaat #dennisalfonzobeckles #crimeinbarbados #criminalmatters https://www.instagram.com/p/CTmaRlOA4pKVhNpDKYUl7rqYbGCXvkeYi2qtII0/?utm_medium=tumblr