arm of the law.

Thirty-four-year-old Shaun Patrick Hatherley, of Riviera Crescent, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to the charge of escaping custody on December 14.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told the court that Hatherley appeared in Magistrates' Court on that day and was to pay fines of up to $4,500. Upon being escorted by Police to the Hamilton Police Station, Hatherley broke free and escaped running west along Reid Street.

That same day Hatherley turned himself in at the Hamilton Police Station.

When asked why he had done it, he replied: "I was scared. I have never been locked up before. It was Christmas. I'll never do that again.'' Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Hatherley that he had made the situation worse by running away and sentenced him to ten days in prison.

FLIGHT DIVERTED FLY Flight diverted A Continental Airlines flight from Puerto Rico to Newark, New Jersey was diverted to Bermuda early yesterday to drop off a sick passenger.

The Boeing 737 landed shortly after midnight to land the man and resumed its flight at 2.30 a.m.

Airport operations manager Lester Nelson said he did not know how many passengers were aboard the plane, but expected it to be full because of Christmas travel.

Last night a King Edward VII Memorial Hospital spokeswoman reported the man was on a general ward, but refused to give his condition.