MONTEGO BAY, St James — Chuckles could be heard from all corners of the St James Parish courtroom last Friday as a defence lawyer explained what led a St James man to steal two boxes of Corona toilets from a business establishment in Montego Bay.

Noel Kerr, 57, pleaded guilty to simple larceny when he appeared before presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley. He was given a suspended sentence.

According to court records, Kerr was seen leaving the company warehouse around 4:00 pm on June 17 with two boxes in his hand heading quickly towards the company car that he drives. Checks revealed that the boxes contained two Corona toilets valued at $74,017.54.

The branch manager checked to see if the accused had provided an invoice or if the items had been purchased. It was determined that no such action was taken. As a result, the cops were called and Kerr was arrested and charged.

During the hearing, Smith-Ashley asked attorney Henry McCurdy to tell the court what explanation his client had given for committing the offence. McCurdy had volunteered his legal services to Kerr as a friend of the court (amicus).

The lawyer told the court that a female security guard had asked Kerr to place the items outside and had promised him “something” in exchange.

“Your Honour, he was just silly… it was not for him; it was the security guard who asked him to put the items outside and promised him sexual favours, and he took the offer,” McCurdy explained.

Kerr sat quietly in the prisoner’s dock listening to his attorney but not disputing his arguments.

“Your Honour, he has lost everything. He lost his job that he has had for several years,” McCurdy added.

In response to the attorney, Smith-Ashley stated that Kerr should have made better choices.

“Sir, at your age you really ought to know better. You should be an example to young men and women. You are now convicted of a serious offence,” the judge said.

The judge also told the accused man that it was a breach of trust because he had been with the company for a long time, but she took his early guilty plea, age, and previous good character into account.

In passing sentence, the judge imposed a one-year prison sentence, but suspended it for two years.

This means that if Kerr commits another offence within the next two years, he will serve the sentence imposed in the new case in addition to the one year for the stolen toilets.