By Alric Lindsay
Presley Charles Whittaker was sentenced in the Summary Court today, January 13, 2025, to 18 months in prison for burglary of a home on Robin Road, North Side. He stole food and alcohol from the premises.
Background
According to the prosecution, on February 10, 2024, Whittaker entered a home on Robin Road as a trespasser.
Reportedly, the homeowner was off-island at the time of the incident and received a notification on her phone indicating that there was an intruder in her home in the Cayman Islands. The scenario was caught on her CCTV camera.
After witnessing the incident, the homeowner called 911.
By the time the police arrived, Whittaker already left the home. Initially, the police were unable to locate him.
Eventually, the homeowner provided a copy of the CCTV footage to the police, and Whittaker was identified and charged.
Whittaker later pleaded guilty in court to one count of burglary.
Sentencing
Having analyzed the sentencing guidelines, the prosecution suggested a sentencing starting point of 1 year in prison.
Speaking about matters which could impact the sentence, the prosecution said:
The defendant’s history of previous burglaries significantly aggravates the current charge. The pattern of behaviour underscores the need for a stringent sentence to address both specific and broader concerns associated with repeated criminal conduct.
The defendant has committed six burglaries in the past demonstrating a persistent disregard for the law and the property rights of others. Burglary of a residential property is a serious offence that merits a custodial sentence.
The prosecution added:
The victims of this burglary certainly experienced considerable trauma.
Their sense of security and sanctity within their home was violated, leading to a long term lasting psychological effects such as anxiety, fear and stress.
The prosecution concluded:
We invite the court to impose a maximum allowable sentence to address the aggravating factors, deter future offences and safeguard the community.
Speaking on Whittaker’s behalf, attorney John Furniss emphasized the property was unoccupied at the time of the burglary. He reiterated that Whittaker only took food and alcohol from the property.
After hearing from the prosecution and defence counsels, the Chief Magistrate raised the prosecution’s suggested starting point for a sentence from 1 year to 2 years.
The Chief Magistrate then discounted this time to 18 months.
The Chief Magistrate informed Whittaker of his right to appeal the Summary Court’s decision.
