A PHONE snatcher stunned a Bulawayo court when he BEGGED a magistrate: “Please send me to jail.”
Homeless Innocent Mhlanga told the magistrate he would be better off in jail after admitting a charge of robbery.
West Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso appeared to have taken pity to the 24-year-old who lives in the poor neighbourhood of Old Pumula, and duly slapped him with a one-year jail term.
Prosecuting, Fiona Denhere-Ncube said Collphinah Tshabangu was talking on her mobile phone while walking in Pumula just after 5.30PM on August 15 when Mhlanga approached from behind and grabbed the phone.
Mhlanga, the court heard, threatened to harm Tshabangu when she tried to wrest the phone from his grip.
Pumula police tracked down Mhlanga and arrested him after getting a good description of him from the victim. The phone was later recovered from an individual to whom it had been sold, but without its two SIM cards.
Before sentencing, the magistrate asked Mhlanga if he had anything to say.
“Please send me to jail, I’ve nowhere to go,” was the shocking response from the thief.