A man’s striking tattoos, most notably that of a snake across his left cheek, created a light moment in court on Wednesday, with the magistrate joking that she had not even noticed his ink-covered face.
It was the tattoos that landed Ryan Lochner, 32, in trouble when his Port Elizabeth girlfriend’s family refused to allow him to stay in their home “because of the way he looked” and he ended up stealing a flatscreen television from a guesthouse to make ends meet.
On Wednesday, the tattoo artist, of Johannesburg, pitched up at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court with a brand new plasma television set and presented it to his victim, the owner of Impolo bed and breakfast in Clyde Street.
A charge of theft against Lochner’s girlfriend, Kayleigh le Grange, 23, of Lorraine, was withdrawn, while Lochner pleaded guilty to the theft.
Defence attorney Johan Botha said Lochner arrived in PE on August 5 for a job prospect, which later fell through.
Botha said Lochner was not allowed to stay with his then girlfriend’s parents because of his physical appearance and he ended up staying at Impolo.
He stole a plasma TV worth R10,000, sold it and kept the proceeds for himself due to the sticky financial situation he found himself in.
“I admit that I have no legal excuse for my actions,” Lochner said in his guilty plea.
In mitigation of sentence, Botha told magistrate Thandeka Mashiyi: “He has a job lined up at a tattoo parlour in Johannesburg, which is not surprising given his tattoos.”
Mashiyi quipped: “I didn’t even notice the tattoos.”
On a more serious note, Mashiyi said there was nothing that could justify theft.
“You can’t use your unfortunate circumstances as an excuse. You made a stupid decision,” she said.
“My point is, you are a young man walking out of here with a criminal record and you still have a future [ahead].
“I’m not suggesting a tattoo parlour is not a proper job, but this conviction could hinder further job prospects.”
She sentenced Lochner to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, with the option of a fine.