Man caught with stolen jewellery walks free

A 29-year-old man was today given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted receiving more than $3,000 in stolen jewellery.

Aswad Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly receiving stolen jewellery on April 4.

The court heard that in the first incident, the complainant left her home locked and secure and returned to find it ransacked.

She noticed jewellery was missing and called the police. She then went to Gold Standard Bermuda and gave them a list of jewellery that was stolen from the home.

A total of $11,700 worth of jewellery was taken.

In the second incident, the complainant secured his home and returned at 8pm to find all the cupboards in the kitchen were open.

His home was also ransacked and $14,810 worth of jewelry was taken.

Police began an investigation into both matters.

Wilson then attended Gold Standard Bermuda with the stolen jewellry.

The items matched the first complainant’s list of stolen jewellry.

Wilson then asked for the items back and said he didn’t want to sell them anymore.

He was arrested at his home later that day.

Wilson was interviewed on April 8 where he admitted going to the gold exchange with his wife to sell the jewellery.

He told officers he found it on his dresser and assumed one his wife’s friends had bought it into a house.

Wilson admitted he assumed it was stolen. Some of the jewellery was recovered.

Prosecutor Susan Mulligan said there needed to be deterrence in cases like this, which are prevalent in Bermuda.

Addressing the court, Wilson said: “I just want to say that I’m sorry. This is really not me.

“I have a job now. I work day and night. I pay all my bills.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t thinking that day.”

Wilson told the court he works at Portofino to keep a roof over his wife and two-year-old son’s head.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced Wilson to six months in prison for each count, suspended for two years.

He warned Wilson that if he comes back to court in the next two years, the sentences could be activated.