A man accused of assaulting his elderly mother and cousins was sentenced to six months in prison and two years probation when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Vincent Patrick Smith, of Hamilton Parish, who pleaded guilty to assaulting his mother, Grace Smith, an elderly cousin Wilbur Outerbridge and another cousin, Dudley Leon Smith, has been in custody on remand since a court hearing in February, waiting his sentencing.

The court heard at the original hearing in February, that Smith had dragged Mr. Outerbridge from his bed after hitting him in the head with an object and demanded to know why he had not been paying rent.

Mr. Outerbridge suffered injuries, which had to be treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Smith returned home to find the two men in the living room and Mr. Outerbridge injured.

She told the court she ran and called the Police and that when she returned Smith had approached her with a knife and threatened her.

At his hearing, Smith was found guilty of assaulting his mother, Grace Smith, and an elderly cousin Wilbur Outerbridge. He also admitted to assaulting another cousin, Dudley Smith, on a different day inside the home.

He was remanded into custody and Court Services carried out pre-sentence reports which revealed he suffers from bipolar disorder but he is fully functional if his medication is taken correctly.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function but is treatable.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "There is nothing wrong with him, if he is taking his medication. The report says that because he was smoking cannabis at the time then that will help alter his mental state."

Smith's lawyer Kendrick James told the court that Smith was smoking because it was his birthday but he is willing to give it all up and follow any orders given by the court.

The time that Smith has spent on remand was taken into consideration and he was given a total of six months imprisonment and two years probation under the instruction of Court Services.