Cannabis found inside plastic bag

A Hamilton man caught with cannabis told Police: “It's just weed.”

Back seat passenger Reid Trott was in a vehicle stopped by traffic Police at 12.23 a.m. Officers saw him duck down inside the car in an apparent attempt to hide.

But the vehicle was searched and a clear plastic bag with plant-like material inside was found. When arrested on suspicion of having drugs, Trott replied: “It's just weed.”

Tests later proved he had 1.66 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Trott, 20, of Cottage Hill Road, Hamilton, admitted possessing cannabis on August 7 in St. John's Road, Pembroke. He was fined $800 when he appeared before magistrates yesterday.

In a separate case, another Hamilton man admitted a charge of cannabis possession on August 26.

David Tuzo, from North Street, was spotted by officers patrolling Curving Avenue, Pembroke. The court heard he was searched after being seen quickly pulling his hand to his side.

He was searched and a brown paper bag containing 0.18 grams of cannabis was found in the defendant's left hand.

Tuzo, 46, apologised to the court and was also fined $800.

Both defendants asked for extra time to pay the fines, but Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told them: “If you have money to buy weed, you have money to pay the fine.”

However, he later backed down and said they could pay by the end of January.

Drunk driver went wrong way up Reid Street

A drink driver went the wrong direction on a one-way street, then dropped his bike when he tried to put it on a stand.

Patrol Police stopped Jonathan Christopher McLoughlin after he travelled the wrong way up Reid Street, Hamilton. They also noticed he “wobbled to a stop”, and as he tried to put his motorcycle on its stand the machine crashed to the floor.

McLoughlin, 26, of Berry Hill, Paget, admitted drink driving at 3.45 a.m. on October 29.

He appeared at Magistrates' Court yesterday and was fined $1,000. He was also banned from the road for one year.

Leave liquor alone, Sandys man told

A Sandys man has been warned to leave alcohol alone, after he drunk so much he could not get up unaided from the side of the road.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner asked Pierre Andre Binns if he had any idea how much his drunken behaviour on Middle Road had cost taxpayers.

Mr. Warner said the involvement of paramedics, Police and then yesterday's Magistrates' Court appearance had bumped up costs.

And he added: “If you can't handle your liquor, leave it alone.”

Crown counsel Nicole Smith said officers responded to a report of a “man in distress” in Sandys. They discovered the defendant lying on the ground and unable to get up.

Paramedics found he did not have a medical problem and further checks showed he was drunk.

Ms Smith said Binns made several attempts to stand without help but could not do so. He then told officers: “I've only had five beers.”

Binns told the court yesterday the incident was an embarrassment to his family. He was seeking help for his alcohol problem, he added.

Binns, 39, of Gatehouse Park, was fined $300 after admitting a charge of being drunk and incapable of looking after himself, on October 29.