Derek Paynter, of Wellington Back Road, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to assaulting Debra Davis and causing her bodily harm on January 12.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said the incident occurred at the couple's home after the pair began arguing.

Paynter pushed Ms Davis, punched her in the ear, and pushed her to the ground.

Sgt. Taylor said Ms Davis required three stitches at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to close a laceration to her ear.

Paynter told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that the incident "just happened on the spur of the moment''.

"It was just one of those things,'' he claimed. "I was being provoked.'' Mr. Francis pointed out to Paynter that he had sent men to prison for "things like this''.

And he ordered Paynter to pay a $700 fine "to drive the message home''.

DRUG ADDICT ADMITS CHEQUE FRAUD CTS Drug addict admits cheque fraud A self-confessed drug addict claimed his "problem'' caused him to commit cheque fraud.

Chris Ray, 26, of Spring Hill Road, Warwick, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court this week to stealing a cheque book from Christopher Darrell and three counts of uttering, adding false writing to cheques, and inducing someone to deliver goods on three separate occasions last month.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Ray stole a book of cheques while he was a guest at the home of Christopher Darrell of Devonshire. The cheques were from an account that was closed four years earlier.

On February 4, Ray went to Lindo's Supermarket in Warwick, purchased some groceries with one of the cheques, and received $50 in change.

Sgt. Taylor said Ray went to Bo's Landscaping and Equipment on February 6 and purchased some cigarettes with another cheque.

And on February 10, Ray went to Sports R' Us, purchased two pairs of sneakers and a hat with a cheque and left with $40 in change.

Sgt. Taylor said Ray told Police that he stole the cheques to pay off some bills and used the change he received from the transactions to buy drugs.

Ray also asked for several other undisclosed offences to be taken into account.

Sgt. Taylor said the total value of the all the goods obtained with the cheques was $1,247.45.

Ray was released from prison on December 6 after serving an eight-month sentence for similar offences.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Ray to pay a $200 fine on each count.

Of the $2,000 worth of fines, Mr. Francis said $1,247,45 was to be compensation to the complainants.

And Ray also received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

SOCIAL REPORT ORDERED FOR TEENAGER CTS Social report ordered for teenager A social inquiry report was ordered this week on a 16-year-old after he admitted breaking into a restaurant.

Wendell Tucker, of Patience Lane, Sandys Parish, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to breaking into Woody's Drive-in, with two others not before the court, on December 5.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said a caretaker at the drive-in was cleaning up when he heard noises coming from the kitchen around 1.10 a.m.

Once inside the kitchen the caretaker saw two men in the process of cooking hamburgers. The men fled the scene upon spotting the caretaker.

Sgt. Taylor said the caretaker also noticed that eight beers had been consumed.

Upon being arrested on January 27, Tucker admitted breaking into the drive-in to steal some beer and food.

Tucker told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that he left Sandys Secondary School two years ago, without graduating and worked as a landscaper.

Mr. Francis adjourned the matter until April 14 when a social inquiry report was expected to be completed.

Tucker was granted bail in the sum of $500 plus a surety in like sum.

MAN FINED FOR GROWING CANNABIS CTS Man fined for growing cannabis A 33-year-old Devonshire man was this week fined $800 for growing cannabis at his home.

David Brangman, of Greenwich Lane, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to cultivating cannabis sometime between July and November of last year.

Brangman also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis on November 1.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said narcotics officers went to Brangman's home around 10.20 a.m. and noticed a plant that looked like cannabis.

The officers seized it and later arrested Brangman who admitted that the plant belonged to him and was for his personal use.

Sgt. Taylor said Brangman had two previous convictions for possessing cannabis.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Brangman to pay a $400 fine on each count.

SENT TO PRISON FOR EXPOSING HIMSELF CTS Sent to prison for exposing himself A homeless man was this week sent to prison for three months for exposing himself in public.

David Whitter, 40, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to exposing himself in a public place, Cedar Avenue, on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Police were talking to Whitter at the Hamilton bus station around 10.25 a.m. when he began using fowl language.

Whitter then pulled down his track pants, exposing his penis.

Sgt. Taylor added that a group of Mount St. Agnes Academy students were jogging by at the time of the incident.

Whitter, who has a history of dishonest acts, told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that "it will never happen again''.

Before sentencing Whitter, Mr. Francis told him: "You couldn't have chosen a more public place for this disgusting offence.'' GUILTY OF STEALING FORM EMPLOYER CTS Guilty to stealing from employer Romeika Brangman's employment at the Somerset MarketPlace ended when she was tempted to steal.

The 20-year-old cashier was caught steeling groceries worth $124 from her former employers, Magistrates' Court heard this week.

Prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said Brangman had since been dismissed.

Brangman, of Runway Lane, Sandys Parish, was fined $250 after admitting theft.

She told Senior Magistrate Will Francis: "I am sorry. I have learned my lesson.''