I stole to cater for my pregnant wife, says convict

A 27-year-old man, Deshida Joseph convicted on Thursday for house breaking and theft, begged a Gudu Upper Area Court for pardon, saying he stole to cater for his pregnant wife.

Joseph had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of house breaking and theft.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, sentenced the convict to four weeks imprisonment with an option of N6,000 fines on each of the two count charges.


Kagarko advised Joseph to desist from crime by finding a profitable handwork to provide for his family.

"You receive this light punishment due to your plea, and for the fact that it is your first time in court,’’ Kagarko said.

He also ordered that the recovered stolen items be returned to its rightful owner within 30 days of the judgment.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Augustine Urom, told the court that one Tarfa Mike, reported the matter at Garki Police Station on Jan. 3.

Urom said that the convict broke into Mike’s house when he travelled during the last Christmas holiday.

"The convict, Deshida, who resides at New Kuchingoro, Kaura district, Abuja stole items whose monetary value were not disclosed.

"He stole clothes, shoes and two ``Ghana must go’’ bags as well as other polythene bags,’’ Urom said.

Urom said that the convict was caught in the act.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The convict begged for leniency, promising not to repeat the crime.

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