A homeless man stole a Dunkley’s Dairy truck while staff were making a delivery and went joyriding in the vehicle.

Ernest Smith, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty yesterday to aggravated taking of a vehicle in connection with the May 27 theft.

The 42-year-old took the truck from Reid Street, near Washington Lane, while its two staff members made deliveries.

Later, police recovered the vehicle unoccupied in Riviera Road, Southampton.

The Supreme Court heard the vehicle had suffered $3,000 of damage. The theft also cost the dairy $391 of merchandise.

Charles Richardson, defend-

ing Smith, questioned if his client could be penalised for the cost of damages to the contents of the vehicle under the charge he admitted.

He added: “You cannot cry over spilt milk. He took a joyride in a milk truck and we are in Supreme Court.”

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons ordered Smith, who was already remanded into custody, to return to the court on Friday to be sentenced.

The appearance was one of several during the monthly arraignments session.

Winston Paynter, 38, denied charges that he conspired to import heroin to Bermuda between an unknown date and April 11, 2019.

The Devonshire resident also denied possessing heroin with intent to supply and possessing ammunition on the latter date.

Mr Paynter was released on bail until October 17, when the matter is expected to return to court to set a trial date.

Mrs Justice Simmons warned that a date might not be available until next year because of the lack of available court rooms and the sitting of the Court of Appeal in November. She said: “The court can only work with the physical plant available to it and, as we know, [Supreme Court 1] is not available for trials.”

Also appearing was 33-year-old Mikado Burchall, who has been accused of the unlawful killing of Adrian Hassell, 24, with an alternative charge of causing his death by reckless and dangerous driving.

Mr Burchall, from Smith’s, is also charged with operating a boat while impaired.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charges and was released on bail until the matter is next mentioned.

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