assaulting a woman to whom he owed money.

The court heard how Jason Burrows, 23, of Friswell's Road, had been confronted by Nemi Edwards on October 6 because he owed her money. Burrows threatened Edwards then carried her into a bathroom and hit her.

Burrow's lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill asked if he could obtain a social inquiry report for his client, who had a previous assault conviction.

Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl-Ann Mapp released Burrows on bail for $1,000 and ordered him to return to court for sentencing on February 2.

TEEN LUCKY NOT TO SPEND XMAS IN JAIL CTS Teen lucky not to spend Xmas in jail A 16-year-old repeat offender was told that he was lucky not to be spending Christmas in jail after he pleaded not guilty to breaking into someone's house while he was out on bail.

Jevon Thomas of Scaur Lane in Sandy's Parish was charged with breaking and entering a Sandy's Parish home on November 21 and stealing two magazines, a helmet and a bottle of wine.

Magistrates' Court heard that Thomas was on bail in relation to other matters when he allegedly committed the offence.

Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl-Ann Mapp told Thomas that she was concerned he had offended again while on bail and he had better stay out of trouble or else he would end up in jail.

She released him on $1,000 bail and ordered him to return to court on January 18.

ADDICT ADMITS HAVING DRUG EQUIPMENT CTS Addict admits having drug equipment Possessing equipment for use with a controlled drug landed a 41-year-old cocaine addict in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Alvin Hayward, 41, of Mount Hill Road, Pembroke pleaded guilty to the offence and told the court he had a problem with cocaine.

The court heard that Police responded to information about a man who was selling drugs across from the Liberty Theatre on Union Street and found Hayward there when they arrived.

They searched him and found a brown paper bag containing an empty 50 millilitre bottle with a pipe sticking out of it. The pipe was covered in residue which later tested positively for cocaine.

Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl-Ann Mapp asked Hayward if he wanted help for his problem and ordered a social inquiry report for him. She released him on $500 bail and ordered him to return to court on February 5.

MAN FINED $200 FOR HAVING CANNABIS CTS Man fined $200 for having cannabis A bit of cannabis cost a St. George's man a $200 fine yesterday.

Art Tyrell, 22, of Silk Alley, was fined at Magistrates' Court after admitting having 1.39 grams of the drug in his possession after he was stopped by Police on Kindley Field Road.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James told Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor.

Cheryl-Ann Mapp that the accused had been seen by officers on routine patrol in problem areas of St. George's and had appeared nervous.

He was seen again later that night, October 7 last year, riding a cycle on Kindley Field Road and pulled over. Officers found a small envelope containing the drug in a trouser pocket.

The court heard when asked what the material inside the envelope was, the defendant replied "Weed.'' Defence agent Mr. Phil Perinchief told Mrs. Mapp that his client had never been in trouble before.

He added the defendant had a steady job as a painter and the offence appeared to be a "one-off situation''.