carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.

Ricardo L. Stowe, 18, of Garden Lane in Paget, told the court he did not know how young the girl was.

"She looked around 16, 15,'' he told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis.

Stowe was convicted of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl between the ages of 14 and 16. The offence occurred between February 1 and April 8. In ordering Stowe to perform 60 hours of community service, Mr. Francis said he took account of the man's claim that he "had no idea this girl was so young.

"Although sometimes out there in the community this sort of thing is not taken seriously at all, I hope that this is some sort of a wake-up message to you,'' Mr. Francis said.

It was "a serious offence -- particularly with young girls,'' he said. Stowe works full-time at Lindo's Market and will also attend night school beginning in September, court was told. "This will have to be done in your spare time,'' Mr. Francis said.

RISE IN NUMBER OF ROAD ACCIDENTS AC Bermuda recorded a higher number of road accidents last month than in the previous month or in July last year.

A total of 254 accidents occurred this July compared to 236 in June and 245 in July, Police said yesterday.

As a result of the 254 accidents, 158 people sustained injuries -- 86 of them were locals and 72 were visitors.

Seven of those involved in accidents were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving.

But Police said most of the accidents were because of inexperienced drivers.

Inattention, driving too close behind another vehicle, and improper overtaking were the other causes listed.

TRAFFIC OFFENCES COST MAN $950 IN FINES CTS Driving an unlicensed vehicle without insurance and a valid driver's licence yesterday cost a Pembroke man $950 in Magistrates' Court.

Alma Scott Hunt, 19, of Five Sunset Lane, was stopped for the offences on May 20 and June 4, prosecuting Insp. Peter Duffy said.

On May 20, Police discovered that Hunt did not have a current driver's licence and the car was unlicensed and uninsured.

On June 4, Hunt was stopped twice at midday for driving without a valid driver's licence.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Hunt $500 for the three counts of driving without a licence, $300 for driving without insurance, and $150 for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

WOMAN STOLE FROM HER EMPLOYER CTS A Warwick woman yesterday pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to stealing from her employer.

Meredith Terry, 49, of Tribe Road Number Two, stole $30 worth of items from Paget Pharmacy where she was a part-time cashier on April 19, said Sgt. Peter Giles, prosecuting.

Terry placed a box of Alka-Seltzer Cold Medicine, one box of 222 painkillers, one tube of Coppertone Sunblock lotion, and one sport headband in her bag, the court heard.

A security guard stopped Terry on her way out of the store and searched her bags where the items were found. Terry was arrested.

Terry told the Wor. John Judge she intended to pay for the items before leaving and had no intention of stealing them.

All the items were returned, he added.

Mr. Judge fined Terry, who had no previous convictions, $50.

GOOD TOURISM SEASON FOR CARIBBEAN TOU The Caribbean enjoyed its best winter tourism season since 1989, according to figures from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

The CTO reported visitor arrivals were up eight percent over the winter, a report in Tour and Travel News said.

The January to May period that is high season for the Caribbean is the off-season for Bermuda. But Bermuda reported a 13 percent increase in winter visitors over 1992, the report said.

Every Caribbean destination but St. Maarten reported an increase during the first half of 1993, with two-thirds of the Islands reporting double-digit growth from the United States.

Destinations in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean fared the best. Anguilla arrivals were up 36 percent, Curacao was up 46 percent, Grenada improved by 33 percent, and St. Lucia by 27 percent.

Increased consumer confidence and support for the CTO's $15-million regional marketing campaign were cited as reasons for the increases.

DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS ON THE INCREASE CRM Police yesterday revealed they arrested more people on suspicion of impaired driving last month than in the same month last year.

A total of 25 people were stopped by Police in July compared to 19 in July, 1992.

Of the 25 arrested, 20 failed the alco-analyser test, three passed, and two refused to be tested.

Most of those arrested fell in the 22-to-40 age group, with the oldest being 65 and the youngest 17. The latter passed the alco-analyser test.

Most of the arrests took place on Saturdays from 1 to 3 a.m.

One of those arrested one was a taxi driver, 14 were driving trucks and 10 were riding bikes.