removing coral from the ocean.

Greg Skylar, of Chaingate Hill, Devonshire, admitted the offence in Magistrates' Court.

Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting, said a Fisheries inspector saw Skylar passing objects to two people in a boat anchored in Castle Harbour on September 5.

When he was approached about the offence Skylar said:"I had no idea it was illegal. Can I put them back? Give me a break!'' And in court, Skylar told Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis: "I took the marine test before I even rented the boat. The information was not there.

"It should be known to people when they rent this stuff. I thought it was nothing more than a plant.'' Mr. Francis said he accepted Skylar's comments, but he had to impose a $100 fine.

SANDYS MAN ADMITS ASSAULTING WOMAN CTS Sandys man admits assaulting woman A 36-year-old Sandys man this week admitted assaulting a woman.

Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting told Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis that George Mouchette, of Rushy Lane, assaulted the Sandys woman on July 16.

She was travelling west on Middle Road when he drove up behind her, and asked her to let him overtake.

Sgt. Kirby said that Mouchette spat in her face after she refused.

Mouchette then said: "I'm going to punch you in the face.'' He spat in her face again and said, "I can bust your tail'', claimed Sgt.

Kirby.

Mouchette told Mr. Francis that he realised that he was wrong, but it was in fact the woman who spat in his face and cursed him about ten times.

He added he thought she was taking up all of the road, and wanted to overtake.

"I asked her nicely and she cursed me. I felt kind of bad because she spat at me when I asked her to move on. For her to curse me in the public road, I didn't think that was nice.'' Mr. Francis fined Mouchette $200.

NINE MONTHS JAIL SENTENCE FOR WOUNDING MAN CTS Nine months jail sentence for wounding man A 31-year-old Devonshire man was this week sentenced to nine months in prison for wounding a man and carrying an offensive weapon.

Gerald Smith, who is already serving a year in jail for an unrelated matter, pleaded guilty to the offences in Magistrates' Court.

Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting, said Smith was involved in a fight with Delton Richards outside Swinging Doors on July 15.

Smith pulled a fillet knife from the waistband of his shorts during the fight, he said.

Richards grabbed the knife, sustaining a deep cut to his left hand.

Smith then picked up a metal pipe and began beating Richards with it, causing Richards to require two stitches to his lower lip.

But Smith's lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis that the incident was a verbal altercation which turned into a fight.

He said Smith did not go to the club intending to fight anyone.

Mr. Francis handed down a nine-month prison sentence on each charge, to be served concurrently with the sentence Smith is already serving.

HEFTY FINE, ONE YEAR OFF THE ROAD FOR DISQUALIFED DRIVER CTS An 18-year-old St George's man was fined $900 and disqualified from driving all vehicles for 12 months in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Craig Blanchette pleaded guilty to driving a motorcycle while disqualified on June 8 in St. George's.

He also pleaded guilty to driving the cycle without third party insurance. At the time of his arrest Blanchette told Police his name was Colin Ingham and his birthday was August 31, 1974.

He was given two tickets with fines of $100 each. He signed for them using Ingham's name.

Police made some inquires, and found out that Blanchette had lied to them. In addition to having no driver's licence or insurance, Blanchette was charged with making a false statement to Police and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Blanchette told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis that he was sorry and that he intended to go back to school. He said he had been accepted at a college in Rhode Island.

But Mr. Francis questioned his thriftiness. "This is not the way to save money is it?'' he asked.

Mr. Francis fined Blanchette $200 each for not having third party insurance, driving without a licence, driving an unlicensed motorcycle and driving while disqualified and $100 for making false statements to Police.