Man jailed for stealing from shopkeeper who helped him

A man who repaid a City business owner’s regular help of food, drinks and clothes by stealing merchandise worth $1 471 from him has been jailed for two months.

Noel Alexander Austin, 51, of no fixed address, told the court that he had asked the storeowner for $20 but received only $15. So he stole a bicycle, hot dog crates, packs of plastic cups, a mattress protector, boxers and panties from Bhana’s on Saturday. In court, he disputed the value of the goods.

“I am guilty of this crime, but the items ain’t worth all of that,” he said.