I started stealing at nine, teenager tells court in Osun

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A teenager, Pelumi Alabi, on Monday appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo for breaking into the house of a man , while he was away in church.

The 18- year old Pelumi , who appeared before Magistrate Risikat Olayemi on two counts of house breaking and stealing , in his confessional statement tendered as exhibit in court , said he started stealing at the age of nine .

The police prosecutor , Abiodun Fagboyinbo , said the defendant broke into the house of one Demilade Obiyemi at No. 25 Dada Estate, Osogbo, on Sunday, December 8 , 2019 , around 12. 22pm .

The defendant, after gaining entry into the house , allegedly stole items like yoghurt , fruit juice and powdered milk .

Other items are tins of sardine , cocoa beverage , a bottle of groundnut , two sachets of sugar , a bottle of perfume , 15 pieces of noodles and earpiece .

The total sum of the stolen items was put at N 10, 000 .

The prosecutor explained that the defendant had carefully studied the schedule of the complainant and broke into his residence while he was attending Sunday service , adding that Pelumi and Obiyemi attend the same church.

Asked to read the statement he wrote at the police station , Pelumi said , “Around 12. 22pm when I was coming from the church, I branched at Mr Demilade Obiyemi ’ s house , because I knew he would be in church at that time .

“ So , I broke into the house through the ceiling with a mopping stick and I stole the stated items and N 5 , 700 .

I have been stealing from my mummy’ s purse since I was nine years old . ”

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge .

The counsel for the defendant, Olusegun Fagbewesa , applied for his bail and prayed the court to consider Pelumi ’ s age .

He also pleaded for probation in place of sentence .

In her ruling , the magistrate committed the defendant to bail with some conditions .

Olayemi said by admitting that he committed the offence and considering the prayer of the counsel , the defendant should provide two sureties in the sum of N 5 , 000 and must appear in court with his sureties once in three months for one calendar year .

She said if the defendant could meet all the conditions , he would be finally discharged by December 2020.

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