Thieving pupil gets reprieve

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A FORM Three pupil has been sentenced to nine months in prison, which have been wholly suspended for five years, for stealing a laptop from a schoolmate. The 16-year-old, who is a former pupil at Plumtree High School, appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon facing unlawful entry and theft charges. Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya said the juvenile stole a laptop which belonged to a schoolmate while he was still learning in Plumtree.

“On an unknown date in July last year he went to his victim’s dormitory room while the complainant had gone for studies at the school library,” said Mr Chinyanganya.
The court heard that the accused took a Lenovo Laptop worth $510 and a charger from the complainant’s room. The victim later returned and discovered that his laptop was missing but he did not report the matter as laptops were not allowed in the school.

He eventually made a report.
The juvenile, who at first denied the allegations, later admitted and pointed out that he wanted to sell the stolen property to raise money for personal use.
The boy’s father, who pleaded on his son’s behalf, said he had been affected by his divorce with his wife.

“My child is well behaved and I was really shocked to learn that he had stolen from his schoolmate. At the time he committed the offence I had just divorced his mother and I think that development stressed him to the extent that he was misbehaving,” he said.

In passing sentence, Mr Philemon said the nine months would guard him from committing more offences.
“It is disturbing that at your age you are committing such serious offences and then you go on to lie about it. You are still in school and you have a bright future ahead of you so concentrate on shaping that future and not building a criminal record for yourself.

“These nine months will be guarding you for the next five years. They will be hovering over your head so that you always keep in mind that once you commit an offence then you are going straight to prison,” said Mr Philemon.

“I have shown great leniency in sentencing you because I have taken into consideration that you are a school pupil. Therefore I am giving you a second chance and please do not mess it up.”