A 62-year-old Pembroke man has been fined $200 and ordered to pay restitution for stealing a handbag.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, Randy Thompson pleaded guilty to stealing the $24.99 handmade bag from the Fair Trade Bermuda Shop in Dockyard’s Clocktower Mall.

Prosecutor Kenlyn Swan told the court that police officers were on patrol in the area on June 9 when they were notified of a theft by the complainant.

The defendant had been seen taking the bag and leaving the store on CCTV.

Outside of the store, Thompson was also approached by the complainant’s wife, who saw him with the bag, which still had the price tags on it.

But Thompson made good his escape and was later identified by police.

During a police interview, he told officers that he had taken the bag and given it to his girlfriend.

However, in court today, he said he didn’t steal it but would plead guilty anyway and requested a conditional discharge.

Thompson apologised to the court, the owners of the bag and his family, telling the court that “it was just a bad day”.

He also said that he had been to prison before and was “too old for jail”.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo handed Thompson a $200 fine and ordered him to pay restitution for the property he stole.

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