Man Ordered to Pay Compensation for Damaging Vehicle, Faces Potential Prison Sentence

A 24-year-old Hindsbury Road man has been ordered to pay compensation for criminally damaging another man’s vehicle. If he fails to pay $1,900 within five months, he will face a 60-day prison sentence.

The sentence was imposed by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes after Gideon Michael Skeete, from Deane’s Village, pleaded guilty to damaging a windscreen, a car stereo, and an equalizer belonging to Calvin Williams on July 26.

According to Police Constable Ralph Rollock, the complainant, Calvin Williams, is the ex-boyfriend of Skeete’s mother. On the day of the incident, Skeete went to Williams’ residence, and an altercation ensued. He was informed that he was no longer welcome and was asked to leave. He subsequently threw a rock at the Williams’ vehicle, causing the damage in question. Skeete was arrested and charged.

During the court hearing, Skeete said: “I ain’t really know what to say.” After some time, he added, “All I got to say, things were escalating, my head was just hot. I made a wrong mistake. He put his hands on me first.”

In response, the Chief Magistrate reminded Skeete that the complainant had already warned him not to be at the residence. “You had no right at this place,” the magistrate told him.

Skeete is currently out on $2,000 bail with one surety. He is scheduled to appear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on January 31 of next year, by which time the compensation should be paid.