A teenager who pleaded guilty to fighting outside the Little Theatre last week was given an absolute discharge when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Darren Anglin, 19, of Alexandra Road, Devonshire, admitted punching another youth on Queen Street on January 26 ? but claimed he was acting in self defence as his victim had thrown the first punch.

"Having read the summary of evidence I shall not convict the defendant charged with affray, even though he pleaded guilty to the charge. I discharge him absolutely," Magistrate Edward King said.

Mr. King placed great weight on Anglin's statement made while in Police custody.

"I don't know (the other fighter's) name, but I just know I don't like him ? he threw the first punch," Anglin told Police.

When a person fought in "legitimate self defence" ? for example if someone punched him first, and he punched back ? he would not be breaking the law, the Magistrate said.

"Do you think the law could be such an ass, that if I was out there (on the street), old and shaky and two young bucks, try to rob me ... could I be convicted?" he asked.

"The answer has to be no."

A speeder caught driving 75kph and 74kph was fined $1,500 and banned from riding bikes for three years when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

William Butterworth, 25, of St. George's pleaded guilty to speeding at 75kph and not having his driver's licence on St. David's Road on December 7, 2004.

Magistrate Edward King fined him $850 for speeding and $150 for no licence and disqualified him from motorcycles and auxiliary cycles for 36 months.

However, for his second ticket, for speeding at 74kph on Kindley Field Road on January 3, Mr. King fined him another $650 and gave him another 36 months off the road to run concurrently.

Mr. King said he could apply to get his licence after 18 months.

A woman who left threatening messages on her ex-boyfriend's cellular phone was given an absolute discharge in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The 39-year-old woman from Pembroke ? who cannot be named for legal reasons ? pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order by harassing a 61-year-old, Southampton man over the phone between January 22 and January 30.

Crown counsel Oonagh Vaucrossen said on January 21, the woman called the man and said "You don't have to answer this you two-timing whore ... I will kick your daughters while I am at it".

The woman was arrested on Tuesday and taken to Hamilton Police Station where she admitted "making several harassing telephone calls".

Ms Vaucrossen said the woman, who is unemployed and has no previous convictions, breached a restraint order imposed last October by making the calls.

The restraint order said the accused could not talk to the daughter or anyone in her family for 12 months.

But Magistrate Edward King said he "perused" the domestic violence order and constraint order.

"The order in my opinion is too wide and named no member of the complainant's family. I shall not convict the defendant. I discharge her absolutely".

However he gave the woman a "stern warning" to stay as far away as possible from the man and his family.

A Hamilton Parish man was fined $500 for not letting Police search him.

Ivan Fubler, 47, of Aubrey Road, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday to intentionally obstructing a Police Officer by refusing to be searched when he was suspected him of possessing drugs.

Police saw him throw an object across the road and "heard the sound of breaking glass".

Fubler later admitted the object was a crack pipe.

A teenager was fined $750 for swearing at a Policeman.

Laurie Thompson, 18, of Shelton Road, Devonshire, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday to using offensive words on The Lane in Paget on January 22.

Magistrate Edward King said the maximum fine was $2,880 or six months in prison, or both.

"This offence is all too prevalent," he said.

"You must be penalised for your words and others must be deterred."