Durban — Two Durban men facing five criminal charges, including theft of a motor vehicle and contravention of the National Road Traffic Act by falsifying a licence plate number, were sentenced in the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.
Jefferson Parsons, 38, and Clinton Heslop, 37, also known as Pokémon, were both sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for the theft of a motor vehicle.
Parsons was additionally sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for falsifying number plates and a further two years for reckless driving. Parsons was acquitted of being in possession of a jamming device.
Heslop was acquitted on two counts of falsifying number plates and being in possession of house- or car-breaking implements.
Both accused have lengthy multiple convictions. Parsons has nine, dating back to 2011, while Heslop has 18 previous convictions since 2006.
In the recent case, the charge sheet stated that in November 2020, the pair acted in common purpose and stole a Samsung Galaxy A5, Samsung A30, Nokia 5, a ladies’ handbag with contents and a brown wallet with R500 out of a parked blue Hyundai Accent in Durban North.
It is alleged that a female bystander was shot in the left arm while police tried to pursue the men.
They were arrested and found in possession of house- or car-breakinginto implements, including keys and screwdrivers, while Parsons was found in possession of a radio-jamming device (a black-and-white remote device), read the charge sheet.
During sentencing, Parsons’s counsel, S Shezi, urged the court not to consider making a decision based on previous convictions, but to consider the two years the pair spent awaiting trial.
Shezi added that her client had shown remorse and complied throughout the case.
Attorney Ashika Ramdularay, representing Heslop, pleaded with the court to consider a lenient sentence with an option of a fine. She said Heslop had three children who needed their father’s presence.
Prosecutor Quintelle Adams said both men were no strangers to contravening the laws of the land without giving consideration to the consequences.
Adams said both accused had been in rehabilitation and reformed, adding that the State now argued for direct imprisonment.
“In respect of Parsons, he has serious previous convictions including fraud. He was found guilty. Heslop has been on house arrest and served time in prison before,” said Adams.
Handing down sentence, Magistrate M Reddy said the court took into account that taxpayers’ money was wasted due to the delays.
Magistrate Reddy said a number of people’s lives were put in danger in the manner that the crimes were committed, including their attempts to flee.
Parsons was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment, while Heslop was sentenced to eight years.
Daily News