Prison for house-breaker with heroin problem

A man who blamed his house breaking problem on heroin abuse was sentenced to 18 months in prison and two years of probation in Supreme Court yesterday.

Cedric Alexander Simons, 36, of Spar Lane, Sandys had been waiting for the completion of his pre-sentencing reports before being he was sentenced.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said that the reports showed that Simons ?accepted responsibility for the offence?.

Simons pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and entering and two counts of breaking and entering and theft. He stole a total of $3,000 from two residences in Sandys Parish and Hamilton Parish, on November 1, November 14 and February 9. A gold ring and gold-faced watch worth a total value of $650 were eventually returned to the owner.

Mrs. Justice Simmons said: ?You need to be taken from the community and put in a structured programme to help with your problem.?

Simons had received a six-month prison sentence for a previous crime but still continued to commit crimes. He admitted himself into a drug rehabilitation programme but continued to use heroin.

Simons, who represented himself, said: ?The last few months I?ve had a lot of time to think and I?ve come to the decision that I have to turn my life around and do the right thing.?

He asked that Mrs. Justice Simmons consider sending him to the Turning Point programme and giving him probation with conditions such as random urine testing.

?If I have dirty urine I?m going to be right back here in front of you,? he said.

Mrs. Justice Simmons sentenced Simons to 18 months in prison with time taken into consideration. She recommended that he be placed in a substance abuse programme during his time in Westgate.

Man fined $1,500 for cannabis possession

A man caught with cannabis in an increased penalty zone made an unsuccessful plea for more time to pay his fine in Magistrates? Court on Wednesday.

The request by Sinclair Ernest Palmer, 45, of Kitchener Close, Sandys, prompted Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves to say: ?How do you have money to buy dope, but not to pay your fine??

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe told the court that Police found Palmer near Southampton Rangers Sports Club on February 20. Mr. Wolffe said Palmer smelled of cannabis and acted nervous in front of Police. They then found a plastic twist in his left sock containing 0.95 grams of cannabis.

Palmer was fined $500 for possession of the drug and an additional $1,000 for being in an increased penalty zone. He has until June 18 to pay the fine or spend six months in prison.

Man charged with stealing remanded

A man charged with breaking into a private home and stealing more than $1,000 worth of electronics was remanded in custody in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Sydney Gibbons, 40, of Hamilton Parish, was charged with breaking and entering the home of Robert Dwinnell on March 28, 2004 and stealing more than a $1,000 worth of stereo equipment and a VCR. He was also charged with unlawfully damaging a window. Gibbons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves refused to grant Gibbons bail. His case will go to trial in Magistrates? Court on June 7.

Man claims he stole for food

A man who claimed he stole a car radio because he needed the money for food will be spending 40 days in jail this month after pleading guilty in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Roland Outerbridge, 42, of no fixed abode, told the court that he stole a radio from the parked car of Virginia Wilson on March 18 because he needed money for food.

Outerbridge said he had just been released from jail and was hungry. Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves told Outerbridge to pay the $250 fine or spend 40 days in jail. Outerbridge chose the jail time.