Man sentenced to 14 months for cannabis, handling stolen goods

A Cooper Island man was sentenced to a combined total of 14 months at Her Majesty’s Prison after he confessed to having cannabis and handling a stolen dinghy.

Charged with handling stolen goods and possession of 18 grams of cannabis is James Lennard, Jr.

He pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards on Wednesday.

Before handing down the sentence, the magistrate said the offender’s guilty pleas, as well as his young age, were considered as mitigating factors in both matters.

On the other hand, his previous antecedents for similar offences were considered aggravating factors of the case.

As such, Lennard was given a 60-day sentence for the drug charge and a 12-month sentence for handling stolen goods.

Both sentences are to run concurrently. This means he will spend no more than 12 months behind bars. The court ordered that his sentence start from the March date he was first remanded.

What the court heard happened

The court heard that on March 2 this year, a 15-foot dinghy with a 15 horsepower engine was tethered to a catamaran at Penn’s Landing on Tortola.

The dinghy could not be found the following day so a report was made to the police who then launched an investigation.

Acting on information, police executed a warrant at Lennard’s Cooper Island home where the said dinghy was found secured at the Lennard family’s dock, the court heard.

Lennard was subsequently arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Lennard was subsequently charged.

The cannabis in question was also found at his residence during the search, the court further heard.

The 22-year-old offender who was unrepresented said he did not know who stole the dinghy but said he “found it on the rocks” and decided to keep it since no one came to claim it.