fines or risk being locked up.

The warning came after a Sandys man spent Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Wednesday in Police lock-up and another Sandys Parish man spent Wednesday night in custody.

Earlier, Jahja Jaberia Williams, 23, of Patience Avenue, pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody on December 25.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court at about 3.35 p.m. on Christmas Day, Police were on patrol along Ord Road in Warwick, when they stopped Williams who was riding a motorcycle with an expired licence.

Police did a check on Williams and learned he had several outstanding warrants for traffic offences.

As they went to arrest him, Williams made a dash through a nearby yard, but was caught minutes later.

He was taken to Hamilton Police Station, where he remained in custody until yesterday.

Lawyer Paul Harshaw appearing for Williams was opposed to the fact Williams was in custody over the holiday and argued his client should receive a conditional discharge.

"He has been in custody since Christmas Day,'' Mr. Harshaw said. "He was only charged Wednesday.

"They could have brought him into Magistrates' Court yesterday. Two and a half days in prison, for an unpaid fine! He's been more than sufficiently punished for the offence charged.'' Mr. Chin gave Williams a six-month conditional discharge for escaping lawful custody and as a result of the warrants for unpaid fines, fined him $325 for speeding at 56 kph and $150 for possessing an invalid driver's licence.

In a separate proceeding, Shawn Smith, 31, of Sandtrap Hill, Sandys Parish, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on December 27, this year and speeding at 64 kph.

The court heard that after Smith was stopped, he was arrested after Police had learned he had warrants relating to over $1,300 in unpaid fines.

Smith told Mr. Chin he was unable to pay the fines because he had just shelled out $10,000 in child support payments and he asked that special consideration be given to his circumstances.

Mr. Chin said: "I'm trying to help you as best I can. I'm trying to keep you out of prison. But it's a vicious cycle isn't it?''