OVID Chester, accused of stealing flower plants from the yard of Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr Lionel Wordsworth, was Tuesday placed on $5,000 bail by City Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond.Chester admitted that on February 12, at Bel Air Park, Georgetown, he stole seven flower plants worth $ 16,000, property of Lionel Wordsworth.

Police Prosecutor Renetta Bentham told the Court that at about 22:00hrs on the day in question, Wordsworth was at home watching television when he heard a loud noise coming from his yard, and saw Chester on his surveillance camera removing said plants.

Being a licensed firearm holder, Wordsworth discharged three rounds at the defendant, who somehow managed to escape with the plants. The matter was reported at the Kitty Police Station, and Chester was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence.

Chester told the Court that he had done some gardening for Wordsworth but had not been paid; and therefore took back the plants for the work he had done.

The Court was told that Chester had been previously convicted on a simple larceny charge for which he had served nine months. The Prosecutor asked for a short adjournment date to verify the time and nature of the offence.

The matter will be called again tomorrow.