Man jailed for breaking into St. David's club

A 25-year-old Hamilton Parish man was sentenced to nine months in prison in Magistrates' Court last week after breaking into St. David's Cricket Club last October and stealing cash and cigarettes.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that Perry Hayward had gained access to the clubhouse through a bathroom window and took $200 cash and ten boxes of cigarettes.

Police also revealed that Hayward stole $200 from Shelly Bay Market Place last Wednesday.

Ms Tyndale said Hayward had asked a cashier to break a $100 note and when the cashier handed him the money and waited for the $100 bill he told her he was sorry and ran from the shop.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced Hayward to three months for the theft which will run concurrent to the nine-month sentence.

Hayward was also put on probation for three years on condition that he follows a drug rehabilitation programme while at Westgate Correctional Facility.

Hayward, who lives with his grandmother, told the court he committed the crimes to support his drug habit.

Shoplifter strikes at MarketPlace

A shoplifter was fined $400 for stealing three bottles of rum from the MarketPlace.

In Magistrates' Court on Monday, Gary Dillas, 52 of Spanish Point Lane, Pembroke admitted stealing two bottles of Gosling's black rum, one bottle of Bacardi rum and a Citiport knapsack at a total value of $99.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman said Dillas was stopped by a store manager when he tried to leave the shop with the liquor in a stolen knapsack on February 26. “The defendant is known for this type of activity,” Mr. Blackman said.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Dillas to pay the fine by Friday or spend 40 days in prison.

“If you don't pay by Friday you go straight to Westgate see?” Mr. Warner said.

Crack pipe found among man's belongings

A man found with a home-made crack pipe was fined $300 in Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Clyde Quinton Simons, 45, of Watlington Lane, Devonshire admitted possessing the pipe on August 20, 2004.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman said Police saw the defendant lying on the ground near the Bull's Head Car Park, with his belongings scattered all around him. Police told him to move along but while Simons was collecting his things they noticed him acting suspiciously.

Police checked the items and found a bottle converted to be used as a pipe. Simons was arrested and when the bottle was analysed, traces of cocaine were found.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered Simons to pay $300 or spend 30 days in prison.

Repeat drunk driver taken off road for two years

A repeat drunk driver was disqualified from driving all vehicles for two years and fined $2,000 in Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Omar Ratteray, 33, of Somerset Road, Sandys admitted driving drunk on Trimingham Road, Paget on February 17.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman said Ratteray was seen swerving across the road before Police stopped him.

His blood alcohol level was 111 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner took him off the road for 12 months and fined him $1,000.

However, in a second incident, Police found the same defendant involved in a collision on Harbour Road on January 11, 2004.

The Mitsubishi Station wagon he was driving had extensive damage to the front after he struck a pole.

This time, the breathalyser reading was 120 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr. Warner gave him another year off the road and another $1,000 fine.

He also fined him $300 for speeding at 56 kph on November 27.

Caught with drugs, US man apologises

A 42-year-old salesman from Atlanta pleaded guilty in the Magistrates' Court last week to importing 1.48 grams of crack cocaine and was fined $1,000 by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that Bradford Giles was searched by Customs' officers at Bermuda International Airport when he arrived in Bermuda.

She said officers became suspicious after finding traces of the drug on his luggage and his pants.

Giles then showed the drug taped to the top of his leg and told officers he was sorry and that he had never got into trouble before. A nervous-looking Giles, who was making his second trip to the Island, told the court he was sorry.

“I have some medical problems that cause me to want to sleep all the time and I was self medicating. I'm sorry,” he said.