A story on a court case in yesterday's newspaper incorrectly stated that James Tavares, the then-owner of Tropical Fish World, was arrested by officials investigating charges that he failed to provide suitable and adequate food, water and care for animals in confinement. Mr. Tavares was not arrested. We apologise for the error.

A man "accidentally'' used his car as a battering ram to pin a policeman against a wall before running over another officer, a court heard yesterday.

Lorenzo (Toronto) MacDonald Darrell, 32, did not intend to injure the officers who had cornered him in his car. Darrell had just left a house which Police were about to raid for drugs, defence counsel Phil Perinchief said. Senior Magistrate Will Francis sentenced the serial criminal to six months in prison for the attacks.

Crown Counsel Larry Mussenden said on February 5 three police cars full of officers drove into the house on Hillview Road, Warwick, and told Darrell to freeze as he was sitting in his car.

Ignoring the command he reversed his car at high speed and pinned one officer against a wall, then continued to accelerate -- ramming him and causing a large dent in the car.

In his bid to get away Darrell drove forward, hitting another officer and running over his foot.

Mr. Mussenden said even when Police eventually pulled him from the car he continued to punch and kick until he was handcuffed.

One officer needed six stitches for a cut to his hand and suffered severe bruising of his legs. The other one had a badly bruised foot, he said.

The prosecutor described the father-of-two -- currently in Westgate on other charges -- as a "graduate of the system'' with previous convictions for violently resisting arrest and charges involving dishonesty.

Defence counsel Perinchief said his client had been confused about the real identity of the plain-clothed men who suddenly drove into the yard.

He admitted Darrell had an "illustrious history in the courts'' but said he had also "paid his debt to society in prison''.

"My client believed these men were certain other elements involved with drugs -- not the police -- who were coming to get him.'' Darrell pleaded guilty to inflicting grevious bodily harm and two counts of assaulting Police with the intent of preventing lawful detention.

PET SHOP OWNER GUILTY OF CRUELTY CTS Pet shop owner guilty of cruelty A Warwick businessman on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a gruesome menagerie of dead and dying animals.

James Tavares, of Burnt House Hill, Warwick, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to failing to provide suitable and adequate food, water and care for animals in confinement.

Crown counsel Venous Telford told Senior Magistrate Will Francis officials from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries went to the store room of Tropical Fish World on Angle Street on September 2 this year.

The single room contained 55 fish fish tanks, five rodent tanks, and two bird cages. There were no open windows and the air inside was warm, stale and foul smelling, said Mrs. Telford.

Two parakeets were found without food or water. Both were thinly muscled and had difficulty flying.

Inside four hamster tanks officials found a total of 14 carcasses in varying states of decomposition. Some were "nearly unrecognisable mats of fur and bone'', said Mrs. Telford.

Of three hamsters found alive, one was in a "hearty'' condition.

But the other two were weak, frail, dehydrated and emaciated. There was blood about their nasum and anus, and their eyes were crusted shut.

The hamsters later died while in veterinary care.

And a total of 18 dead fish were found among 27 survivors.

Mrs. Telford said officials used the extensive fungal growth and algae on the fish tanks, the emaciated condition of the survivors, and the amount of cobwebs in the room to determine that the animals had been neglected for approximately three weeks.

Officials seized the store and remaining animals and arrested Tavares later the same day.

According to reports, the 42-year-old -- who has been in the pet supply business for 11 years -- readily admitted he was responsible for the animals and apologised for any embarrassment he had caused.

And yesterday Tavares agreed with a recommendation that he not be allowed to regain control of his company until he provided a buisiness plan to the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

However, Mr. Francis adjourned sentencing until November 17.

CUP MATCH REVELRY PROVES COSTLY CTS Cup Match revelry proves costly A Canadian worker with more than three times the legal limit of alcohol was banned from all vehicles for one year.

Christopher Laxdal, of Radnor Road, Hamilton, yesterday pleaded guilty to driving an auxiliary cycle while impaired on July 31.

Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phillip Taylor told the court Police saw Laxdal cross the center line on Front Street, Hamilton three times around 3.30 a.m.

The officers stopped the 30-year-old and noted his breath smelled of alcohol, he was unsteady on his feet, and his speech was slurred.

A later breath sample revealed a lower reading of 263 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

"It appears I got a little too deep in the Cup Match revelry,'' Laxdal told Senior Magistrate Will Francis. Mr. Francis also ordered Laxdal to pay a $500 fine.

ASSAILANT WINS COURT LENIENCY CTS Assailant wins court leniency A man accused of hitting his landlord over the head with a stick was given a conditional discharge for 12 months yesterday.

Princely Demie Fubler, 30, of Mullet Bay Road, St. George's, pleaded guilty to assaulting Clifton Anderson, causing him actual bodily harm.

Fubler told the court he had acted in self defence and prosecutor Phil Taylor said the incident in July was "six of one and half a dozen of the other''.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said: "There is no doubt still ill will between you and Mr. Anderson so it is better just to stay away from each other, you see.''