A Devonshire father who went to desperate measures for the sake of his infant child, pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting in Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Jamel Wilkinson, 30, of Hermitage Road, Devonshire, was stopped by a store detective from the Phoenix Centre on Reid Street on July 30.

The detective had observed Wilkinson on an in-store camera placing several goods into a white bag. She stopped him after he had left the store.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith said when Wilkinson was searched, it was discovered he had tried to steal a package of Q-tips, a package of baby wipes, two cans of powder, a car sign and some stickers - goods valued at a total of $43.25.

“These are all infant-related items,” said duty counsel Paul Harshaw, adding that Wilkinson's child is now six months old. “The baby was evidently very young at the time these goods were stolen.”

Although Wilkinson had had a drug problem, the court was assured that the problem is now under control. The items, said Mr. Harshaw, were clearly not for resale, but were for use in the support of the child.

In light of the fact that Wilkinson has the responsibility of a child, Mr. Harshaw asked Acting Senior Magistrate Tyrone Chin for a punishment of a fine, to keep Wilkinson “an active father”.

Mr. Chin fined Wilkinson $400.

“I assure you this won't happen again,” said Wilkinson.

A Pembroke man was caught red-handed trying to steal a bike - by the Police officer who owned the vehicle.

Richard Allen DeSilva, 22, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court last Monday to attempting to steal a bike on November 19.

Crown counsel Shade Subair told the court that the bike was owned by a Police constable who arrived in time to see DeSilva perched on it, reaching under the gas tank.

“This is my mate's bike,” DeSilva told the officer. He was taken to Hamilton Police Station.

“We want to help you,” acting Senior Magistrate Tyron Chin told DeSilva before sending him to Drug Court for assessment by Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre (BARC).

In another, similar, matter, however, Mr. Chin made DeSilva pay up.

The other incident took place on September 10 when DeSilva stole a bike from Southampton.

Debora Furtado, 19, of Sandys, who was with DeSilva at the time, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Ms Subair told the court that DeSilva and Furtado were spotted by Police in Southampton at around 2 a.m. on September 10. DeSilva was sitting on top of a silver Scoopy, and Furtado on a blue Centro.

When questioned by Police, Furtado said: “The bike belongs to my boyfriend. He's drunk and I'm giving him a lift on my bike so he won't ride his.”

Police told the pair to leave the area, which they did.

Some time later, however, two eyewitnesses saw the defendants go back and steal the silver Scoopy. Ms Subair told the court that, when questioned, both defendants said that the bike “belongs to our friend Chin”.

Mr. Chin asked Furtado if she, also, was involved with drugs, to which she replied no.

The father of the owner of the bike told the court that insurance had been paid on all but 20 percent of the bike. He therefore asked for restitution of $600 from the pair.

Mr. Chin sentenced both Furtado and DeSilva to a fine of $1,000 and a restitution payment of $300 each.