A cruise ship passenger is being hit with large fines after stealing spa supplies on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship to Bermuda.
William James Mullen, a 46-year-old New Jersey resident, pleaded guilty to stealing about $3,000 worth of goods from the spa and a Royal Caribbean Sea Pass Card, which allowed him to make purchases on board Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.
On the evening of September 10, Mullen and his wife went to the ship spa for a massage. Mullen was unsupervised for some time after the massage. During this time, he stole $2,799 worth of spa products.
The following day, Mullen stole another passenger's Sea Pass card, which he used to buy two bottles of cologne worth $136 at an on-board store. Mullen signed with the card-owner's name when he made the purchase.
Police officers came on board the ship when it docked at King's Wharf on Wednesday. The officers searched Mullen's room and found the stolen goods.
Mullen was arrested and taken to the Magistrates' Court. He pleaded guilty to the thefts which took place in Bermuda waters.
Duty counsel Leonard Holder described Mullen as a self-employed management consultant and father of four. He said that Mullen is also a kleptomaniac, which is why he was compelled to steal the items. Holder says that Mullen is in therapy and taking medication for this disorder and he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions.
"The consequences have already impacted on him. He hasn't been able to enjoy his vacation with his wife, who is in the courtroom today," Mr Holder told The Royal Gazette.
Mullen was removed from the Royal Caribbean ship.
"The ship doesn't want him back, so he is not going to be able to leave on the ship, so he will have to find some other way out of the jurisdiction," Holder said.
Holder argued that Mullen's trip was not what he had anticipated.
"He anticipated coming on board and stealing other people's things," Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner argued in return.
Warner has ordered Mullen to pay a fine of $2,000 for each count of stealing. He must pay the fines immediately.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
