4 years in prison for repeat offender

There are 10,600 foreigners from 157 countries in British prisons and they cost the British taxpayer nearly £400 million a year. (PHOTO: DAILY MAIL)

A repeat offender on his 23rd conviction was sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to fraud charges when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Friday.

Forty-three-year-old Andrew Henry pleaded guilty to breaches under the Cybercrimes Act.

The court heard that on June 6 between 3:23 pm and 7:00 pm, Henry went to PriceSmart on Red Hills Road in St Andrew where he attempted to purchase items valued at $72,000 with a credit card.

When the card was declined for the amount, Henry told the cashier to instead cash a Samsung smart television which was among the items.

The transaction was subsequently completed and he left. Later that day, Henry returned and attempted to purchase an Apple laptop and a BLU tablet both valued at $190,000.

Upon cashing the items, the cashier told Henry that he had to inform his supervisor about the transaction because it was a large purchase.

Henry questioned the cashier’s decision.

The cashier became suspicious and asked the manager to check Henry’s driver licence. The card was declined after the manager swiped it.

The police were summoned and Henry was arrested and charged.

When he appeared in court on Friday, Senior Parish Judge Judith Pusey asked: “Why you don’t get a job?”

“Mi caan come out a prison and apply for a job,” Henry replied.

“Is not every job they ask for police record,” Pusey responded.

Henry argued that if someone who knew of his convictions came to his workplace and saw him, he would be sent home immediately.

“At least you would have worked for two days,” Pusey said.

Henry was first convicted in 1996. He has since also been convicted in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2009 on similar fraud charges.

In 2009, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.