MARARABA (NASARAWA) —  An Abuja senior magistrate’s court,Monday, sentenced Kelvin Justin of One Man Village in Nasarawa State to one month in prison for stealing.

The presiding magistrate, Miss Mimi Katsina-Alu, sentenced the accused after he pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing two phones and a Honda Hennessy car key.

She, however, gave him an option ofN5,000 fine, and cautioned him to be of good behaviour.

Pleading guilty to the offence, Justin begged the court to have mercy on him.

“I have a younger sister I cater for and who will suffer if I am imprisoned. I pray the court to be lenient with me,” he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Francis Tanko, told the court that Funke Adeniran of  44, Anthony Enahoro Street in Utako reported the matter at the Wuse Police Station on March 19.

He said the accused had gone to a commercially-operated social garden at Wuse Zone 1, owned by Adeniran and constituted himself into a nuisance to other members of the public.

The prosecutor said Justin also stole two mobile phones valued at N65,000, as well as a Honda Hennessy car key which belonged to Adeniran.

He added that it was discovered during investigation that Justin, who is a 21-year-old carpenter, sold the stolen phones for N7,200.

“The offence contravened sections 183 and 287 of the Penal Code,” Tanko said.