Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
Nickalous Youlando Stevenson, who is reportedly already serving a sentence for burglary, appeared via video link in the Summary Court today, July 20, 2026, to face allegations of obtaining property by deception and handling stolen goods. The Chief Magistrate sentenced him to one month, to run concurrently with the time he is currently serving in prison.
The court heard that on May 30, the complainant received an alert that his cards were being used without his consent. He then discovered that his wallet was missing from his backpack at his workplace, which was on a construction site.
According to Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, two card transactions were successfully processed, and seven further attempted transactions were declined. The amount in question was $39.50.
As to how the cards came into Stevenson’s possession, the court heard he found the bank cards in a wallet near a building site.
Arguing on Stevenson’s behalf, his defence attorney told the court that Stevenson was homeless, jobless and penniless at the time of the offence and that this had been “an event of opportunity.”
The defence attorney explained that Stevenson had seen a bag lying on the ground near a wall outside a building where workmen were at work, near Palm Heights hotel. He picked it up and, on opening it, found a wallet containing a small amount of US cash, an amount he said he could not recall, along with credit and debit cards. He accepted using one card successfully and attempted, unsuccessfully, to use another.
The court was given an account of Stevenson’s background; he suffered depression and suicidal thoughts from the age of 11. At 14, he fractured his skull in a fall, requiring years of pain medication, which led to an opioid addiction he had since tried to overcome.
The defence noted that Stevenson was already serving a sentence, and the current charges should have been considered at the time of the initial sentence. In the circumstances, the defence attorney suggested that the starting point was a discharge, fine or community-based order.
After considering submissions from counsel, the Chief Magistrate sentenced Livingston to one month’s imprisonment, to run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving.
