Cocaine addiction as a cause of criminal activity is an increasingly less attractive explanation, Mr. Justice Dale Sanderson commented on Friday.
The court has sympathy for addicts, but at some point that must take a back seat to protecting the public, he said.
After hearing the background to two robberies and one aggravated burglary, Mr. Justice Sanderson sentenced Allen Hurlstone, an admitted cocaine addict, to 12 years imprisonment.
The judge noted that the offences carry a possible sentence of life. Hurlstone’s offences, however, did not warrant a life sentence, he indicated.
Hurlstone, 37, pleaded guilty to all three charges. Details were set out by Crown Counsel Scott Wilson.
The first robbery occurred in the early hours of 24 February at the Courtyard Marriott. Around 4.20 am the person at the front desk became aware of an approaching male in dark clothing and a bandana across his face and carrying a knife about eight inches long.
Simultaneously he heard two persons screaming at each other and the sound of a fire extinguisher being discharged.
The man with the knife – Hurlstone — hit the hotel employee on his knee, then took cash from a drawer and left. The employee ran into another room and called police.
Meanwhile a security officer, who had just come out a restroom, was attacked by a co-accused. The powder from the fire extinguisher went into his eyes.
Another security officer, who was on duty on the beach side of the hotel, came to the scene. He saw the vehicle in which the robber and accomplice left the scene. The money stolen was CI$482 and US$10.
The aggravated burglary occurred on 3 March. Just after midnight, the manager of Paradise Bar and Grill closed the premises and stayed to tidy up. He heard the sound of smashed glass and saw a man in black clothing come inside, spraying a fire extinguisher.
The man grabbed the cash register drawer, but realised it was empty. He then hit the manager and ran, making his getaway on a bicycle.
On 7 March, around 2am, the manager of Aqua Beach finished his duties and went out to the car park. A woman approached him with a fire extinguisher, which she discharged in his face.
He hit out with a bag he was carrying. A second person – Hurlston – came and forced him to the ground and took the bag. It and the personal items inside were valued at $220.
Mr. Wilson advised the court that Hurlstone had several drug convictions, as well as a robbery in 2001 for which he received three years.
Defence Attorney John Furniss said Hurlstone recognised the seriousness of his offending, but chose to plead guilty instead of making the Crown prove its case.
In the aggravated burglary, Mr. Furniss said, Hurlstone cut himself when he went through the smashed door. He had to go to hospital and get six stitches.
By way of background, the attorney spoke plainly about the defendant’s addiction. When Hurlstone was released from prison, he got a good job and was able to obtain a mortgage to buy a house.
But cocaine again was his downfall. In spite of his good job, the need for and the cost of cocaine was such that he involved himself in these offences.
Mr. Furniss emphasised that Hurlstone never involved himself with firearms. Asked why he had used a fire extinguisher, he said because it would not cause any lasting harm.
Mr. Justice Sanderson asked if the defendant wanted to say anything.
Hurlstone apologised to his victims and for letting down his family. ‘I didn’t grow up to hurt anyone,’ he said. He acknowledged hanging out with the wrong people, using drugs and listening to others while on drugs.
In passing sentence the judge summarised each of the offences and said the robbery with the knife was the most serious. He expressed concern that this was not Hurlstone’s first robbery conviction and not the first involving violence.
He had been impressed by Hurlstone’s apology, remorse and cooperation.
Taking into account the guilty plea, cooperation and the hope that Hurlstone could turn himself around, the judge said he felt obliged to impose a term of 12 years. For the other offences, he imposed terms of three years, concurrent.
He recommended that the defendant be provided with any drug treatment programme available in prison.
In another case that day, Mr. Justice Sanderson had said firearms pose the greatest threat in the country today.
In this case, Mr. Furniss said that if firearms are the greatest threat, then the drug situation is the other scourge this island faces.
The judge agreed. Cocaine was responsible for no end of burglary, robbery, assault and murder, he commented.
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