A Claxton Bay grandmother narrowly escaped being jailed yesterday by a San Fernando magistrate for stealing three packs of Maggi Soup from a supermarket.
Jane Ali, 51, was reprimanded when she appeared before Magistrate Ava Vandenburg-Bailey in court yesterday for setting a bad example for her grandchildren.
Ali said she stole the items to cook for her grandchildren as she had no money to buy food.
According to reports, around 10 am on Thursday, Ali went to Library Corner Supermarket where she was observed by the owner putting several items into a basket. The owner then saw her walk towards a corner inside the supermarket and put several items in her bag.
The owner approached Ali, told her of what she saw, and searched Ali’s bag and found the three packs of Maggi soup, valued $14.49.
In court yesterday, Vandenburg-Bailey told Ali she was setting a terrible example for her grandchildren.
She questioned Ali about the children’s parents and asked why the parents did not provide a meal for them.
However, through her attorney, Annalee Girwar, Ali told the court that she was given charge of her two grandchildren seven years ago when her son dropped them off at her home and left them. She said he did not provide anything for the children who were now seven and nine years old.
Ali said she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and could not work to support the children.
Girwar said Ali used whatever money she had to buy medication and on that day she was desperate to get something for the children to eat.
Girwar pleaded for leniency on her client’s behalf.
But when Vandenburg-Bailey heard that Ali had one previous matter for a similar offence, she scolded the woman.
“That means you learnt nothing from the last time you appeared in court?” Vandenburg-Bailey asked.
She advised Ali to take the children’s parents to court and have them pay for their upkeep.
“It is not your place to be stealing to feed them. How many mistakes will society tolerate from you? You need to learn you cannot avail yourself from poverty by stealing.” Vandenburg-Bailey put Ali on a $1,200 bond to keep the peace for one year.