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Guilty driver given absolute discharge

A 26-year-old chef was given an absolute discharge in Magistrates’ Court this morning after he pleaded guilty to obstructing a Police officer.

The court heard that on December 22, Jonathan Rivard, of North Shore Road, Devonshire, was observed on his motorcycle passing a car on the inside on Reid Street.

When Police in an unmarked car stopped Rivard at the junction of Reid Street and Burnaby Street, he said: “Oh come on, don’t make something out of nothing. Just drive.”

Rivard then disobeyed an order to stay and continued south on Burnaby Street.

Police officers pursued Rivard and stopped him again at the junction of Queen Street and Reid Street.

Prosecutor Loxely Ricketts told the court that Rivard then took out his cellphone and started to record the incident — intruding on the officer’s personal space in the process.

He was given a verbal warning, informing him of the offence of obstructing a Police officer, and was subsequently arrested.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said: “This has been a complete waste of police time, your time and the court’s time.”

He gave Rivard an absolute discharge and the matter was dismissed.

Rivard was also accused of driving without due care and attention, but the charge was withdrawn because the date on the charge sheet and the date on the ticket did not match.