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Faith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
A habitual shoplifter from Gweru has been jailed for two effective years for stealing a teapot which he hid in a jacket before attempting to walk out of a local supermarket.

Magistrate Judith Taruvinga found Brian Sibanda, 32, of Mambo suburb in Gweru guilty of one count of theft.

In his defence, Sibanda said that he stole the teapot because he wanted to raise money for his sick child.

“Your worship my child is not well and I needed money to take the child to hospital. Please be lenient with me,” pleaded Sibanda.

Taruvinga would have none of it saying Sibanda was a habitual shoplifter who had previously appeared before her facing similar charges.

“I’ll not be lenient with you because it’s the fourth time you’re appearing in court for shoplifting and you’re turning it into a habit,” said Taruvinga.

“In sentencing you I’ve taken into account that you’re a family man. However, what I find aggravating is that you’ve turned this into a bad habit and you need to learn a lesson by going to prison. I hereby sentence you to two years imprisonment,” said Taruvinga.

Prosecutor Chiedza Tsikira told the court that on July 27 this year at around 1:30 PM Sibanda entered into N. Richards Private Limited in Gweru and took a 1,7 litres yellow teapot and placed it in his jacket together with two bottles of wine.

“Sibanda then went to the till and paid for the two bottles and walked towards the exit door where he showed the receipt to the security guard. The security guard saw that Sibanda was holding something in his jacket,” said Tsikira.

She said the guard stopped and searched Sibanda.

“The teapot was recovered and the matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest,” said Tsikira.