Man charged with burglaries, escape

Charlton Bengar Ebanks appeared in Summary Court on Wednesday facing charges ranging from escaping police custody while at the George Town Hospital to three burglaries within 24 hours. 

Ebanks, 21, is accused of escaping from the hospital on 17 November while under police guard. No details of how the escape occurred were given in court, but police news releases indicated Ebanks was recaptured on 29 December following an operation at the Treasure Island Resort on West Bay Road in Grand Cayman. 

Previous news releases stated Ebanks had been taken to the hospital for treatment on 16 November after he was hurt in a car crash that afternoon. 

As a result of that accident, which occurred on Watercourse Road in West Bay, he was charged with careless driving, driving without being qualified and without insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. 

Magistrate Nova Hall advised defence attorney John Furniss there was another file alleging three burglaries. 

The first in time allegedly occurred on 15 November at an apartment on West Bay Road. Ebanks is accused of entering the premises with an unknown person as a trespasser and stealing electrical goods and jewellery with a total value of US$9,500. 

The other two charges relate to 16 November at an area of Snug Harbour. Details are the same: He and an unknown person entered residences as trespassers and stole electrical goods and jewellery. Value of the items taken was unknown. 

Ebanks also had older charges of failing to surrender to custody for which he received fines. He failed to pay those fines. 

Mr. Furniss said Ebanks had just spoken to him minutes earlier down in the court holding cells about representation, so they needed to discuss matters before any progress could be made. The defendant swore to the truth of his answers on the legal aid application form. The charges were then all set for mention again on Tuesday, 10 January. 

There was no application for bail and Ebanks was remanded in custody to Northward Prison. 

Ebanks is accused of entering residences as a trespasser, with an unknown person, and stealing electrical goods and jewellery.