A cow thief was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at hard labour on Wednesday.

Earl Gordon and Kirk McClaughlin, both of New Garden, St Andrew, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court to answer to a larceny charge.

McClaughlin was, however, freed after no evidence was presented against him. Gordon admitted being the thief, but claimed McClaughlin told him to do it.

The complainant told the court that Gordon was a known cow thief and when he discovered his cow was stolen, he immediately felt that the accused was the culprit.

The court heard that the complainant left a cow tied to his gate and the following morning it was missing. The complainant allegedly followed footprints that led to Gordon's house.

When he confronted him about the cow, Gordon took him to the spot where he had the animal.

Fellow accused, McClaughlin, told the court that Gordon asked him to do something for him and he refused. He said he was at home the day the cow was found, when he heard that Gordon said he (McClaughlin) stole a cow and that people were planning to kill him. He said he went to the police station where he saw Gordon and asked him why he was accusing him, when he knew nothing about the cow.