A WISMAR man was on Monday sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to escaping lawful custody.

The particulars of the charge state that on August 21, 2018 at Half Mile Wismar, Kester Johnson, 20, broke and entered the house of Tia Nieuekura and stole one ‘cell-phone’ valued $45,000.

It was further alleged that on August 24, 2018 while in lawful custody at the Wismar Police Station pending an investigation into the matter, Johnson escaped.
The unrepresented man denied the first charge and pleaded guilty to the second, explaining to the court:
“I don’t know anything ‘bout the girl phone; my ‘child-mother’ got baby on August 31, and I didn’t want to leave my son unprotected.”

Police prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail, based on the fact that the defendant was charged before for a similar offence, and given a two-year suspended sentence on April 30, 2018. He is also said to have, while being on the suspended sentence, committed two other offences.

As such, he was sentenced for escaping lawful custody, while hearing into the other matter has been adjourned to November 28 and transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.