Social enquiry report for alleged phone thief

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court has ordered a social enquiry report to be prepared for a St James man after he pleaded guilty on Monday to being in possession of a stolen phone.

Dwayne Austin, of a Montego Bay address, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property. His case was deferred to June 23, at which time the social enquiry report is expected to be completed.

The court was told that the complainant, who was employed to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, left his BlackBerry phone, valued at J$24,000, in a certain location, but when he later went to retrieve the phone, it could not be found. A police report was made, and during a subsequent police operation, Austin was held and charged.

The court was also told that Austin had told the police he had bought the phone for J$6,000.

Resident Magistrate Wilson Smith then ordered the social enquiry report to be prepared and extended Austin's bail to June 23.