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Man fined and banned for roads offences has knife charge sentence adjourned

A man who led police on a high-speed chase was later found to have a knife in his motorcycle, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Rhanai Williams, 21, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, dangerous driving and refusal to stop for police.

He also pleaded guilty to driving an unlicensed and uninsured motorcycle and driving without a licence.

The court heard that police were parked on Vesey Street in Smith’s when they saw Williams, who was riding a motorcycle, and his pillion passenger act suspiciously when they spotted the officers.

Police followed the pair along Middle Road and signalled for the motorbike to stop, but Williams ignored the officers and increased his speed.

Officers followed the motorcycle as it rode into Flatts Village, turned on to North Shore Road and then on to Old Military Road in Pembroke.

Williams ignored stop signs, almost collided with a vehicle in front and went so fast that he almost lost control of the motorbike.

He abandoned the motorcycle on Schools Drive in Devonshire and he and the passenger fled on foot.

But officers later found Williams, from Pembroke, hiding in some trees and arrested him.

A check of the motorcycle revealed that it had not been licensed since April, 2019 and that it was uninsured.

Williams also did not have a valid driver’s licence.

A knife with a 3.5“ blade was found in the bike’s seat.

The incident happened on July 30, 2020.

Karen King Deane, for the Crown, said that Williams should be fined for the offences.

But Paul Wilson, for the defence, instead asked that his client should be the subject of a social inquiry report so he could be sentenced for the knife offence.

Magistrate Craig Attridge ordered a social inquiry report and adjourned the knife possession charge until April 2.

He fined Williams $1,850 for the traffic offences and banned him from the roads for 18 months.

He ordered Williams to pay the fines by the end of March.

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