Porter gets 18 months after stealing clothes, hair

A porter was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in jail after admitting to stealing over $600,000 in clothing and hair from a city boutique.

Jose Hamilton, 48, pleaded guilty to the charge that between February 1st and February 2nd, at Garnett Street, he stole a quantity of children’s clothing, valued $350,000, a quantity of women’s hair, valued $211,000 and eight pairs of adult pants, valued $64,000, from Otto Mitchell.

Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that on February 1st, around 6 pm, Mitchell secured the boutique, leaving the articles mentioned in the charge, and left. Mitchell returned at 10 am the next day and discovered that the articles were missing. He then reported the theft to the police.

Jeffers further stated that during their investigations, the police viewed CCTV footage that showed Hamilton removing the articles from the boutique. When questioned by the police, Hamilton subsequently admitted to the crime. He also told the police that he sold the articles to a man who gave no name or contact information. The articles were not recovered.

It was also reported by the prosecutor that Hamilton was previously convicted for a similar offence last year and he was sentenced to 4 weeks in jail as a result.

Hamilton was subsequently sentenced and the Chief Magistrate expressed hope that he would seek counselling during his time in prison.