Outage threat lifted

Electric light company Belco has restored 90 percent of its generating capacity, after a July 14 explosion at the company's Pembroke plant crippled its output capacity.

Company officials yesterday said Belco was now able to meet consumer demand for electricity, and lifted the threat of rotating power outages.

Belco, in the wake of the explosion, had said unscheduled power cuts could take place for a period of weeks, as part of its effort to restore the plant. Yesterday, demand for power stood at 107 megawatts, which was within Belco's 123 megawatt capacity, the company said.

Belco advised consumers to continue to conserve energy when possible.

Crack addict goes on stealing spree

A Pembroke man's crime spree has resulted in him being referred to the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre after he pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and stealing various items from three residences.

Genghis Ebbing, 29, of Frizzles Lane, admitted to Magistrate Chamois Tokunbo that on July 29 he broke into Cliff's Barber Shop in Warwick, owned by Jamal Williams, and stole $35 in cash and caused $200 in property damage to the shop.

The court also heard that on the same date Ebbin broke into the residence of Pamela Smith and stole a television set, a DVD player, a stereo player, a Sony Walkman Player and a bike helmet with a total value of $860 and a motorcycle.

On July 20 Ebbin broke into the residence of Kelly Rego in Middleton Lane, Paget and stole a $600 Toshiba TV.

When Police arrested Ebbin for committing these offences he told the Police he did them to sustain a drug habit.

Mr. Tokunbo referred Ebbin to the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre (BARC) to see if he would be suitable to attend the Drug Court and was remanded into custody until September 12 when he will appear in Magistrates' Court to hear the outcome of BARC's report.

Addict admits trespassing

A 37-year-old man has been referred to the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre after pleading guilty to trespassing on to his mother's residence to feed his crack habit.

Craig Frith, of no fixed address, admitted to Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo that on July 28 at around 7.45 p.m. he unlawfully entered the residence of Josephine Frith at Gilbert Hill, Devonshire and demanded $100 from his father.

The court heard that he verbally abused his elderly parents after gaining entry to the residence through a laundry room and being told to leave the premises. At the time his parents had sought a protection order against Frith but he claimed he had no trespass notice and was sleeping in the laundry room.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill told the court that Frith has a crack cocaine habit and was aggressive towards his parents.

Frith said he was sorry about his actions and asked to be sent to the Drug Court.

Mr. Tokunbo referred Frith to the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre (BARC) to see if he would be suitable to attend the Drug Court and was remanded into custody until September 12.

Busy weekend for Police

Despite a lack of major incidents over the holiday period Police made16 arrests between last Wednesday and yesterday morning. During this period 13 vehicles were stolen, four people were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, 22 incidents of breaking and entering were reported to Police

There were 11 disturbances and 41 road traffic accidents, ten of which resulted in injury.

There was also 23 domestic incidents, nine incidents of stealing, two incidents of robbery and one hand bag snatch.

Traffic Offences from 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 to 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, included a total of 109 speeders who were ticketed for speeds between 50km and 90km per hour.