A teen who had previously admitted in court that he was a sex worker was today slapped with a simple larceny charge and ordered to not leave his premises after nightfall.
Denzil Benjamin, 19, who is no stranger to the courts, also told the magistrate he had difficulties in finding a job because of his sexual orientation.
Benjamin, of Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, denied the charge which stated that, on May 6, 2019 at Robb and King Streets, Georgetown, he stole one phone, valued at $120,000, from Savita Singh. The phone was the property of Shivendra Ramraj.
The unrepresented man appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
When asked by the magistrate if he has a job, he said,“ Your Worship, I’m gay and I am having a difficult time finding a job.” However, the young man during a previous court appearance had told the court that he was a sex worker.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that, on the day in question at around 01:15 hrs, the victim, who was in a vehicle, stopped at the corner of Robb and King Streets, Georgetown. The court heard that Singh got out the vehicle and at the time had the phone in her hand.
The prosecutor said that Benjamin, who was standing at the same corner, approached the woman and snatched the phone out her hand before making good his escape.
The matter was then reported and, on May 10, Benjamin was pointed out in a crowd; hence he was arrested for the offence.
Prosecutor Mansfield objected to bail being granted to Benjamin on the grounds that the defendant had more than one charge of a similar nature before the courts. He also said that, based on the prevalence of the offence, the defendant should be remanded to prison.
However, Chief Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the prosecutor, released Benjamin on $50,000 bail and ordered him to not leave his premises between 18:00 hrs and 06:00 hrs.
He was instructed to make his next court appearance on May 20, 2019.
